The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent investigative arm of Congress, studies the programs and expenditures of the federal government. For example, the recent report, GAO-05-781, titled ?Aviation Security: Flight and Cabin Crew Member Security Training Strengthened, but Better Planning and Internal Controls Needed?, found the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lacked written procedures for reviewing training programs, assessing the quality of classroom instruction, and ensuring that airlines are following up with their employees. The TSA developed an advanced but voluntary self-defense training program in 2004 but, unfortunately, has yet to establish performance measures or a time line for determining whether it is effective. The program is available in 15 cities, and poor attendance of the training has been blamed for the inability of employees to have three consecutive days off to attend.

Each commercial flight consists of at least two flight crewmembers and one attendant on board. They are viewed as the last line of defense to any threat aboard commercial aircraft. Before 9/11 , crews were trained to cooperate with threatening passengers or hijackers. Training flight and cabin crewmembers to handle potential threats against domestic aircraft is an important element in securing our nation’s aviation system. The responsibility for ensuring that crewmembers are prepared to handle these threats is shared between the private sector ? that is, air carriers — and the federal government — primarily the TSA. Quoting the report, ?GAO is recommending that the Secretary of Homeland Security direct TSA to (1) establish strategic goals for crew security training, develop guidance and standards for air carriers to use to develop goals and measures for their training, and review air carriers? goals and measures, (2) develop written procedures for monitoring air carriers? crew security training, and (3) establish performance measures and a time frame for evaluating the effectiveness of the voluntary self-defense training. TSA reviewed a draft of this report and generally agreed with GAO?s findings and recommendations.?