Last month, we passed yet another milestone in aviation history, the 88th anniversary of the first attempted hijacking of a passenger aircraft.  On February 12, 1931, a group of armed revolutionaries in Peru attempted to seize a Ford tri-motor by force, resulting in a 10 day stand-off.  The crisis was ultimately resolved when the revolutionaries learned there had been a successful coup against the government, and the plane was no longer needed.

While the threat of hijacking and bombing is still with us, bad actors are always probing for the softest target.  If security is hard to get through, then the focus of attacks moves to the crowds of passengers in the terminal.  Recent attacks by gunmen in airports in Fort Lauderdale, Karachi, Paris, and Istanbul show the magnitude of the threat.

In response, the aviation industry employs a layered defense.  Airlines, security contractors, airports and their vendors, catering and fueling companies all have a role to play.  If, however, the worst should happen, every company, even tangentially involved in the incident, will be sued regardless of where they are in the chain of events.

Because no defense can be perfect, everyone has to face the problem of how to minimize what is, unquestionably, a “bet the company” risk. The little known SAFETY Act is an invaluable tool to protecting every entity that has a responsibility for protecting the public.  Depending on the level of SAFETY Act coverage, a company can be immune from suit, enjoy a cap on damages, and be guaranteed of being able to get out of an unfriendly state of local court.  In addition, getting SAFETY Act coverage can give you a significant competitive advantage, because the protection covers all of customers as well.

Join us on April 3, 2019 for a free 90 minute webinar where we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the SAFETY Act, including:

  • What are the different levels of certification and how does their protection vary?
  • Does the SAFETY Act only apply to technology and devices, or does it include services?
  • What is the Department of Homeland Security looking for in an application?
  • Do I have to disclose my proprietary and sensitive technology?
  • Is the SAFETY Act coverage limited to physical attacks?

See you there!