FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024: Secondary Barriers

APA pilots,

This week’s focus on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 examines the significant gains in the bill for installed physical secondary barriers (IPSB), more commonly known as secondary barriers, to prevent unauthorized access to the flight deck.

Despite sustained resistance from industry opponents, this essential security device will be part of all Part 121 passenger aircraft deliveries beginning in August 2025. Secondary barriers represent a major victory for aviation security thanks to the efforts of a coalition of grassroots, congressional, and union leadership.

The concept of a secondary barrier is simple: a lightweight retractable barrier between the forward-most passenger seat and the flight deck door. This barrier is deployable anytime the flight deck door is open in flight. Unlike improvised security measures, a secondary barrier is an effective, purpose-built, and certified device to prevent unauthorized access to the flight deck.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 originally mandated secondary barriers as required equipment on all new passenger aircraft operating under FAR Part 121. However, opponents argued that the requirement should apply only to newly type certificated aircraft, rather than newly manufactured aircraft. While opponents eventually lost that fight, the rulemaking process leading to the requirement that newly manufactured aircraft have secondary barriers continued until 2023.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 represented a battle won on secondary barriers, but APA, fellow pilot labor organizations, and our friends in Congress strongly believed it did not go far enough. Installing secondary barriers on newly manufactured aircraft only, without any requirement to retrofit existing aircraft, would leave an obvious security gap across thousands of airliners in the fleet. So, your APA Government Affairs Committee continued to educate members of Congress and their staff on the need to finish the job.

Finally, thanks to the tireless efforts of supporters both inside and outside Congress, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will require secondary barriers on all Part 121 passenger aircraft. Though another lengthy rulemaking process awaits, pilots should begin to see secondary barriers proliferate by the end of this decade.

Special acknowledgement goes to Mrs. Ellen Saracini – widow of Captain Victor Saracini, who perished on 9/11 when terrorists hijacked United Flight 175 and flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center – and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). Both individuals have spent the better part of a decade advocating for safer flight decks, never giving up despite strong resistance from industry opponents.

The fight for secondary barriers shows how victories in Washington, D.C., come slowly and often incrementally. But this also means that sustained engagement is effective, even when the payoff is years in the making. This is why APA, with the support of the membership through our PAC, is in Washington – to keep up the long fight for aviation safety and security and the future of our profession.

In unity,

Your Government Affairs Committee