It's Academic

Just last week, Western Michigan University's (WMU) College of Aviation let on that it has been "quietly building" an aviation security research consortium, currently including private consulting firms with expertise in either aviation security specifically or issues of homeland security generally, and eventually, it hopes, including some federal partners. Two of its private partners will be a pair of Colorado firms, Delta Solutions & Strategies, LLC of Colorado Springs, and the FAST Training and Operations Group in the Denver suburb of Westminster, a WMU spokesman tells Air Safety Week. The new college- led project will focus especially on four areas: on-board communications between the cockpit and the flight attendants, the use of in-flight video monitors and wireless communications, cockpit defense and control strategies, and the development of universal standards for air-to-air communications.

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"We plan to combine the resources WMU offers as a research university, the industry experience of our college leadership and the security expertise of our collaborators to address specific areas in which we believe we can make a difference," says Capt. Rick Maloney, dean of the College of Aviation. "We have an in-depth knowledge of airline operations and what goes on in the cockpit. We also have the capability and experience to look at these issues methodically, scientifically evaluate the proposed solutions, and formulate technical and training protocols to address these challenges," Maloney says. Agreements are also being worked out with other WMU departments in the areas of criminal justice and law enforcement training. Maloney and two other WMU researchers were formerly associated with United Airlines [UALAQ], and were involved in the carrier's response to 9/11. The College of Aviation has been in operation since 1939 and currently has about 800 students. >>Contact the college at (269) 964- 6375<<

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