New General Aviation Security Training Available Free, At Your Location

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 02, 2009 -
During 2008, stakeholders and first responders from general aviation airports in several states received free, on-site security training funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In 2009, general aviation airports in 20 to 25 additional states are scheduled to do the same. The free, on-site training delivers cost-effective security solutions to even the smallest general aviation operation, according to Brian Dorow, associate dean – Department of Criminal Justice and the Center for Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism Initiatives at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) in Pewaukee, Wis.
A broad category, general aviation caters to anything from small propeller planes and corporate jets to cargo planes, according to Dorow. “During the 9-11 terrorist attacks, there was a connection to smaller airports,” he said. “Terrorists received flight training at small airports that went undetected.” With the constant threat of terrorist attacks, Dorow maintains, airports in all categories are constantly urged to enhance security measures. “The problem is that historically it hasn’t been cost-effective to improve security within the broad spectrum of general aviation,” he said.
Preventing criminal use of aircraft and facilities
But the new General Aviation Security Training addresses these challenges – making it simpler and less costly for airports to train their staff members. As part of the training, general aviation airports develop cost-effective security plans involving local police and fire departments, according to Dorow.
The goal is to two-pronged: to prevent criminal use of general aviation aircraft and facilities, and to prepare first responders to react safely and effectively to incidents.
Developed in Wisconsin with DHS funds
The General Aviation Security Training was developed in Wisconsin with help from a $750,000 DHS grant; the Worldwide Instructional Design System (WIDS); general aviation associations and organizations; aviation and emergency-response content experts; and WCTC. WCTC applied for the grant to develop the training. The goal, according to Dorow, is to engage as many of the country’s 19,000 general aviation airports, and their local emergency responders, as possible.
Curriculum focuses on performance; relies on experts
To develop the training curriculum, WCTC partnered with WIDS, a non-profit organization based in Waunakee, Wis., offering performance-based curriculum software, training and consulting. Most of the courses and programs offered by Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges are designed using the WIDS performance-based model and software. Aviation, law enforcement and fire experts were also called in to ensure curriculum content accuracy.
General aviation is very diverse and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work, said Dorow. It is a category spanning a wide variety of sizes and types of facilities and aircraft, excluding only commercial and military aircraft. It includes small operations, such as a grassy runway with crop dusters, on up to large facilities with large cargo jets, single-engine planes as well as corporate aircraft. As such, the new security training blends several important points, including an airport’s current aviation security efforts; the diversity of general aviation; and the limited resources of general aviation and its airports.
Involving local emergency responders
The training is designed to train general aviation stakeholders such as pilots, fixed-based
operators (FBO) mechanics, airport operators and airport businesses, among others. Airline airports have their own emergency responders usually onsite, but general aviation airports do not, according to Dorow. As such, general aviation depends on local emergency responders.
Thus, the new security training targets both local emergency responders and airport stakeholders. The training enhances learning by requiring stakeholders to apply knowledge and skills to  different scenarios. In the end, they apply skills and come away with a security plan. Similarly, emergency responders exit training with an airport familiarization plan.
Upon completion, police and fire departments can train others in their local departments, familiarizing them with airport layout, security processes and response plans.
The first general aviation security training in nation
“This is the first training of its kind in the U.S. and has been very well received because of its importance and contribution to the national security plan involving security of methods of transportation,” says Dorow. “The training promotes a community approach to securing general aviation airports. We want to work with the community to make the area secure. It’s participant-centered and participants exit the course with a useful security blue print and plan for immediate application at their airport.”
Free General Aviation Security Training can be scheduled at your location. For detailed training information or to schedule a training at your site, call 262-691-5374 or visit www.wctc.edu/aviation. For more information on WIDS Software, visit www.wids.org.