The Last Line of Defense

The Critical Role of Federal Flight Deck Officers

After the devastating terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, it was evident that a new approach to aviation security was necessary. One initiative developed in the aftermath of that tragedy was the creation of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program. For more than two decades, the FFDO program has provided a critical last line of defense for the U.S. airline industry, relying on the skill, training, and dedication of volunteer airline pilots.

These specially trained pilots operate under narrowly defined authority, with jurisdiction limited to the flight deck. Their presence ensures that if a terrorist or unruly passenger attempts to breach the flight deck, someone is there with the means to defend it. The FFDO program was established by Congress in 2002 through the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act. The idea was essentially to create an added layer of security by deputizing trained volunteer pilots as armed federal law enforcement officers.

Protecting Flights

Since the program’s first class of trainees graduated in 2003, FFDOs have protected more than 23 million flights, with an average of approximately 1 million missions conducted annually.

“The program has grown to thousands of volunteer pilots having been deputized over the past 22 years,” said Capt. Wolfgang Koch (Delta), ALPA’s Aviation Security Group chair. “We’re the last line of defense if all other security measures fail.”

The presence of an FFDO is unknown to passengers, and often even to the rest of the crew beyond the flight deck. This confidentiality adds another layer of deterrence: a potential hijacker can never know for sure whether a given flight is protected by an armed, trained pilot.

Today, the program is a crucial part of the security system that protects the traveling public and serves as a deterrent against attempts to hijack an aircraft or forcibly enter the flight deck. And the program delivers exceptional value for relatively little investment, helping to secure thousands of domestic and international flights every day.

“The expense of FFDO coverage to taxpayers runs between $22 and $25 dollars per mission, with a mission equating to a flight segment portion of a pilot’s schedule,” Koch remarked. “In contrast, it costs somewhere between $3,000 and $3,500 per mission for each federal air marshal. And there are frequently several air marshals on a flight.”

But despite its success, the FFDO program faces challenges.

Program Obstacles

“There are concerns about maintaining the current level of funding for the program, which is a problem,” commented Koch. “And we’ve seen indications recently that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may incorporate FFDOs into the Federal Air Marshal Service’s mission, creating some uncertainty about how the program will be managed in the future.” Currently, program funding only provides for 38 employees who support thousands of actively flying FFDOs, and thousands more applicants wish to join the program. Communicating the value of the program to congressional leaders and policy makers and stressing how important the program has been to the nation’s air transportation system is absolutely crucial to ensuring that it continues to thrive.

Pilots who volunteer to become FFDOs must undergo extensive screening, including criminal background checks, psychological evaluations, and a rigorous training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, N.M. The initial training covers firearms proficiency in which candidates are taught to handle and fire weapons and learn about defensive tactics, procedures, legal authority, and use of force. They also undergo hands-on crewmember self-defense training and participate in scenario-based learning modules, all tailored to the unique environment of the flight deck.

In addition, FFDOs are required to attend a requalification course every six months to maintain their credentials. That’s where their shooting skills are tested at federally approved firearm ranges at any one of approximately 40 approved vendor facilities across the country.

And every five years, FFDOs are required to visit a Retraining Program (RTP) site, where they undergo a more intensive requalification and redeputization process in which participants may also learn about advanced shooting tactics and tactical first aid.

But FFDOs often carry the burden of costs associated with their service, including travel expenses and time away from family for training and requalification. For some participants, attending requalification training might mean two days of travel in addition to the actual time spent training.

“For many of our volunteers, it takes almost a day to get to Atlantic City or to Dallas, two of the primary sites for the mandatory five-year requalification training,” Koch noted. “And to get back home is another day. So where those facilities are located matters a lot.”

At present, three cities offer RTP sites: Atlantic City, N.J.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Dallas, Tex. There are efforts to expand access to recurrent training facilities, including the addition of new locations to make it easier for pilots to stay qualified without extensive travel burdens. Addressing challenges related to travel for requalification would help to ensure that the program continues to attract and retain highly qualified volunteers.

Pilot Support

There’s strong support for the FFDO program within the pilot community. And plenty of pilots are ready to step up and serve. Unfortunately, securing a training date can be difficult, even if an applicant has already been vetted. A significant number of qualified pilots are currently awaiting training due to limited class capacity and resource constraints.

“Presently, more than 1,000 fully vetted FFDO applicants are ready to be trained,” said Koch. “They have already undergone background investigations and are just waiting for an available spot in a class. Unfortunately, the TSA has so far not been able to accommodate that demand for training. In addition to those who’ve already been vetted, more than 3,000 applicants have yet to be processed.”

One recent development is the creation of an advanced Senior Federal Flight Deck Officer training program, offering enhanced tactical, medical, and behavioral detection training to experienced FFDOs. These additional training opportunities allow seasoned FFDOs to deepen their skills and further strengthen aviation security.

Airline pilots who serve as FFDOs volunteer their time and take on significant responsibility to protect not only their fellow crewmembers, but also every passenger aboard their aircraft. Their service reflects the highest traditions of professionalism, vigilance, and public trust. As threats to aviation continue to evolve, the need for a strong and well-supported FFDO program remains clear. Continued investment in training facilities, program management, and logistical support would help eliminate the backlog of applicants and support the long-term sustainability of the program.

Recently, the FFDO community lost one of its own to tragedy. Capt. Jonathan Campos (PSA) died while in mission status aboard PSA Flight 5342 when his aircraft had a mid-air collision with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 over the Potomac River while on approach at Washington National Airport. He died on duty with his weapon at his side while protecting the flying public. Campos’s service as an FFDO echoed his late father’s law enforcement work as a New York City police officer.

All of us who travel on airliners benefit from the quiet presence of pilots like Campos, those who volunteer to serve and protect—and to be ready for the moment we hope will never come.

This article was originally published in the May 2025 issue of Air Line Pilot.