§ 44918. Crew training
(a)
Basic Security Training.—
(1)
In general.—
Each air carrier providing scheduled passenger air transportation shall carry out a training program for flight and cabin crew members to prepare the crew members for potential threat conditions.
(2)
Program elements.—
An air carrier training program under this subsection shall include, at a minimum, elements that address each of the following:
(E)
Use of protective devices assigned to crew members (to the extent such devices are required by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security of the Department of Homeland Security).
(3)
Approval.—
An air carrier training program under this subsection shall be subject to approval by the Under Secretary.
(4)
Minimum standards.—
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, the Under Secretary may establish minimum standards for the training provided under this subsection and for recurrent training.
(5)
Existing programs.—
Notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4), any training program of an air carrier to prepare flight and cabin crew members for potential threat conditions that was approved by the Administrator or the Under Secretary before the date of enactment of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act may continue in effect until disapproved or ordered modified by the Under Secretary.
(6)
Monitoring.—
The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall monitor air carrier training programs under this subsection and periodically shall review an air carrier’s training program to ensure that the program is adequately preparing crew members for potential threat conditions. In determining when an air carrier’s training program should be reviewed under this paragraph, the Under Secretary shall consider complaints from crew members. The Under Secretary shall ensure that employees responsible for monitoring the training programs have the necessary resources and knowledge.
(b)
Advanced Self-Defense Training.—
(1)
In general.—
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, the Under Secretary shall develop and provide a voluntary training program for flight and cabin crew members of air carriers providing scheduled passenger air transportation.
(2)
Program elements.—
The training program under this subsection shall include both classroom and effective hands-on training in the following elements of self-defense:
(3)
Participation not required.—
A crew member shall not be required to participate in the training program under this subsection.
(4)
Compensation.—
Neither the Federal Government nor an air carrier shall be required to compensate a crew member for participating in the training program under this subsection.
(5)
Fees.—
A crew member shall not be required to pay a fee for the training program under this subsection.
(6)
Consultation.—
In developing the training program under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall consult with law enforcement personnel and security experts who have expertise in self-defense training, terrorism experts, representatives of air carriers, the director of self-defense training in the Federal Air Marshals Service, flight attendants, labor organizations representing flight attendants, and educational institutions offering law enforcement training programs.
(7)
Designation of tsa official.—
The Under Secretary shall designate an official in the Transportation Security Administration to be responsible for implementing the training program under this subsection. The official shall consult with air carriers and labor organizations representing crew members before implementing the program to ensure that it is appropriate for situations that may arise on board an aircraft during a flight.
(c)
Limitation.—
Actions by crew members under this section shall be subject to the provisions of section
44903
(k).