President's commission on aviation security and terrorism

Official name

• "President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism"

  Enabling authorities

• President George H.W. Bush established the commission with on August 4, 1989.
• President Bush extended the deadline for the commission to issue its final report by May 15, 1990, with on March 3, 1990.

  Termination

• The commission presented its report to President Bush on May 15, 1990. In accordance with Section 4 of Executive Order 12686, the commission disbanded on June 15, 1990.

  Purposes

• Study and evaluate existing U.S. aviation policies and practices regarding terrorist threats.
• Investigate options of informing U.S. aviation customers of possible terrorist threats
• Review U.S. laws, policies, and practices dealing with the families of terrorists' victims.
• Carry out these provisions with particular attention to the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103, but without jeopardizing on-going intelligence and criminal operations.

  Membership

• McLaughlin, Hon. Ann, former Secretary of Labor
• Hidalgo, Hon. Edward former Secretary of the Navy
• Richards, General Thomas C. USAF Former Deputy Commander-in-Chief, HQ, U.S. Army European Command
• D'Amato, Alfonse M. Senator
• Hammerschmidt, John Paul Representative
• Lautenberg, Frank R. Senator
• Oberstar, James L. Representative

  Public hearings

• November 17, 1989

• December 18, 1989

• February 2, 1990

• March 9, 1990

• April 4, 1990

  Findings

• The sabotage of Pan Am Flight 103 quite possibly could have been averted if proper security safeguards had been in place.
• The FAA's security system continues to target aviation hijackings instead of organized terrorists' bombs.
• Intelligence operations are fragmented among individual airlines and several agencies. Intelligence operations are low key in importance.
• Technology research and development of counterterrorism devices lag behind terrorists' activities.
• Neither the State Department nor the FAA have quick response programs to give aid and assistance to the victims and families of aviation terrorism.

  Recommendations

International security

• The U.S. State Department—not American aviation corporations—should be the aviation leader in international security matters
• The U.S. State Department should create a Coordinator for International Aviation Security with the diplomatic rank of Ambassador.
• This ambassador should work closely with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization in international security matters.
• The existing 1978 international policy on aviation terrorism is insufficient. The U.S. should exhort its economic allies to create stronger multilateral and bilateral alliances to combat aviation terrorism.

  Domestic security

• The Federal Aviation Administration should continue to be the aviation leader in domestic security measures, but partner with the FBI in assessing all aviation threats.
• The FAA should plan and implement additional security measures into domestic aviation over time.
• Commercial air carriers must report all security threats to the FAA.
• Public safety authorities are responsible for when and how searches of aircraft, passengers, and facilities are carried out in response to security threats.

  Mail and cargo

• Commercial air carriers have the first responsibility for screening air mail and air cargo.

  The FAA

• The FAA should establish an office of security reporting directly to the FAA Administrator.
• The FAA should ensure adequate security staffing at all airports, international and domestic.
• The FAA should be responsible for training security staff.
• The FAA should develop technology for screening both passengers and checked baggage.

  Research and development

• explosive detection systems
• aircraft frames capable of withstanding small amounts of explosives
• proactive security planning for future forms of terrorism and security threats.

  Intelligence

• The FAA should work with the FBI in monitoring, analyzing, and confronting possible aviation security threats in U.S. airports.
• The new office of Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Security and Intelligence should work with the Central Intelligence Agency in monitoring, analyzing, and confronting possible international aviation security threats.
• Memoranda of Understanding and written working agreements among the FAA, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement regarding aviation security measures should be regularly reviewed and updated when appropriate.

  Threat notification

• The security bulletins of the Overseas Security Advisory Council and the State Department's Overseas Security Electronic Bulleting Board should be routed to the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs. This Bureau should guarantee timely public access to the information.
• The State Department, The Justice Department, and the United States Department of Transportation will cooperate in creating additional mechanisms to notify the traveling public of potential domestic and international aviation terrorism threats.

  Treatment of the families of victims of terror

• The State Department should be responsible for the needs of victims of international terrorism as well as their families. Specific procedures and personnel must be assigned to deal with matters of notification, direct aid for survivors, injury, death, and bereavement.
• The U.S. should create special funds to compensate U.S. citizens and permanent residents for all economic and non-economic damages resulting from international aviation terrorism.

  National will

• Terrorist attacks must not be allowed to disrupt U.S. political and economic interests.
• State-sponsored terrorism and safe havens for terrorists must be identified and isolated through international cooperation.
• The U.S. government must actively punish state sponsors of terrorism and safe havens for terrorists.
• These punishments include preemptive or retaliatory actions carried out directly or covertly.
• "National will—and the moral courage to use it—is the ultimate means to defeat terrorism."

  Aviation Security Improvement Act of 1990

Footnotes