On Q Professional Investigations

Following the lead of European regulators reacting to the presumed suicidal co-pilot who brought down a Germanwings jet, the Federal Aviation Administration has set up an advisory group to consider possible changes in mental-health screening of U.S. commercial pilots.

The industry-government committee, which also includes labor and medical experts, can look at everything from potential regulatory changes to voluntary efforts by unions and airlines, the agency indicated Wednesday.

The move, however, comes after international groups representing pilots and carriers have warned against overreacting to the Germanwings tragedy, which killed all 149 people aboard the Airbus jetliner that went down in the French Alps in March.

The European Aviation Safety Agency formed a similar study group last month, and German regulators have launched a separate effort to re-examine mental-health assessments of airline pilots. The aviation arm of the United Nations also indicated it would re-evaluate international mental-health standards.

It isn’t clear whether any of those groups will end up urging major changes to existing screening procedures. Strict privacy laws in Germany allowed Andreas Lubitz, the Germanwings co-pilot, to keep his mental problems hidden from management of the airline, which is a unit of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

Safety and medical experts have stressed the difficulty of devising a new regulatory system—even one mandating more-frequent and in-depth screenings—that can reliably identify suicidal tendencies among pilots.

Given the current limitations of testing and medical science, many psychiatrists and psychologist believe such a goal is unreasonable. The public has to “recognize this is a complex medical challenge,” according to Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, president of the top policy-making council of the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization.

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New security management degrees designed to address complexities of business risk and crime prevention

PHOENIX, April 30, 2015 – The U.S. security industry is a $410 billion annual market, with millions of jobs that span nearly every sector of the global economy[1], according to data from ASIS International. Demand and interest in this field are aligned as 42 percent of working adults have some level of interest in security-related careers or have worked in security, law enforcement or other criminal justice-related fields.[2] University of Phoenix® College of Security and Criminal Justice today introduced two new degree programs in security management designed to meet the demands of this expanding industry by providing aspiring professionals with advanced training. To emphasize the importance of the security industry alignment, the College also changed its name.

“The increasing complexity in the security industry has resulted in expanding demands for educated professionals,” said Spider Marks, executive dean of University of Phoenix College of Security and Criminal Justice. “University of Phoenix is working closely with industry leaders to ensure our students are trained to meet the demands and challenges of the modern security industry. The curriculum is aligned with industry standards and is designed to equip job seekers with the education needed to pursue a position in the security field. Changing our name sends a strong message to the industry that we’re committed to the security space.”

The Associate of Arts in Security Management will prepare students to work in loss prevention and asset protection, specifically in the retail industry. Potential jobs include surveillance, investigation, loss prevention and asset protection. Nationally, organized retail crime alone costs the industry $30 billion annually[1], making these positions critical components to supporting and protecting the U.S. economy.

The Bachelor of Science in Security Management will train students in risk mitigation and crisis management applicable across multiple industries, including energy, manufacturing, hospitality and gaming. This degree will prepare students for jobs in risk assessment, risk mitigation, crisis management and continuity planning.

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Fifteen new Aviation Security Officers and Passenger Screeners have successfully met the “Post-September 11th” international requirements that are designed to protect travelers, moving within the nation’s borders and throughout a chain of Bahamian airports.

“A safe airport environment is the economic lifeblood of an archipelagic nation, such as The Bahamas. Our numerous airports and ports of entry require that we not only secure these facilities, but also that our citizens and visitors arrive and depart from safe airports,” said Lorraine Armbrister, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.

“Over the years, the regulatory framework and the security requirements for airports have changed. In some cases, the security regimes which you now follow, they have no resemblance to that which was experienced even 20 years ago.”

On April 24, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Airport Authority attended a graduation ceremony to congratulate and recognize the 2015 graduates at the New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road.

“As the threat and the nature of threats to civil aviation have evolved, so have the duties, required levels of training, and expertise of security screeners. Today, you are exposed to the most advanced, cutting-edge, security technology that money can buy because it is important that we safeguard our nation and its citizens. Additionally, we must do our part in complying with our international obligations,” said Mrs. Armbrister.

The 2015 graduates found an amusing way to laugh at the vulnerability of the Caribbean’s intimate cultural flaws, regarding identity and entitlement, as they performed a skit called “No Access”. In the skit, the actors depicted and acted out an all-too-familiar airport security scenario, of when a local traveler forgets his I.D.

Members of the graduation class, recognized were: Shavon Arthur, Krishna Campbell, Raquel Carroll, Tarnario Cooper, Neco Ferguson, Anthony Forbes, Mikhilo Forbes, Samuel Fox, Ricardo Knowles, Angelo Lamm, Andrew Pennerman, Derrick Williams, Jarrod Williams, Kassim Williams, and Kish Williams.

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