Hello [firstname],
FFDO Stakeholder Meeting 8-11-23:
TSA Aviation Programs Branch:
Denise Stark-Jones
Dan Kuhn
FFDOA:
Bill Cason
Mike Karn
Gary Cason
Kurt Schuster
FFDOA was well represented at the quarterly stakeholder meeting held at the DFW Recurrent Training Facility on 11 Aug 23.
The program relayed that the mission count for FY23 is strong, with over 800,000 missions to date, which include international destinations.
The budget for FY23 stands at 20.5 million dollars, but there is some funds from the Federal Air Marshal Service diverted to FFDO to meet obligations. This equals about a $20 per flight cost to the U.S. Government for flight coverage, which (we believe) represents the most effective and efficient security layer in our transportation system.
Good news on the initial training front, as the program expects to add over 1000 new FFDOs to the population in FY24. There is a backlog of FFDO applicants at this time, so please encourage those interested in becoming an FFDO to apply and get into the queue.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON THE WEAPONS REFRESH!!!!
Once again FFDOA is reminding all FFDOs that the weapons refresh program ends on 4/30/2024. There will be no exceptions or extensions, so please schedule an RTP to receive the new weapon system if you have not done so already. There are still nearly 2000 FFDOs that require the weapons refresh, so we are advising not to wait until the last minute!
In FY24, the program will be adding a position to assist in pursuing international agreements, in accordance with the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act. There are several countries interested in allowing FFDOs to operate into their sovereign territory, so good progress is being made on expanding FFDO international opportunities.
The program has asked that we remind FFDOs to ONLY use their FFDO credentials in the Known Crewmember (KCM) lanes if you are on mission status and operating as an FFDO. The FFDO credential should not be used as a third form of Identification to meet KCM requirements if not on mission status. This could result in a substantial penalty from TSA for this offense.
Not so good news on the effort to expand the Atlanta Recurrent Training facility. Although a location has been selected and secured, there will be a delay while construction takes place on the new facility. Unfortunately, the old facility will not extend the lease, so the program is expecting to close ATL RTP for some months while construction is completed. We will have more on this, including the timelines, as this develops.
The program is also conducting a thorough curriculum review of all the training courses. FFDOA President Bill Cason will be participating in the review process, as well as an in-person review at the Federal Air Marshal Training Center (FAMTC) in December 2023.
Several initiatives are making progress, including the Senior FFDO program, open house briefings throughout the country, moving initial training to the FAMTC in Atlantic City, NJ and an eventual west coast recurrent training facility.
Fly safe and check six!
Semper Vigilans,
Bill Cason
President
