Allied Pilots Association Announces Support for Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association's Position That Federal Air Marshal Program Needs Immediate Revision of Attire and Boarding Policies.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- APA Agrees That Current Policies 'Will Compromise Federal Air Marshals' Mission'

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), collective bargaining agent for the 13,500 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE:AMR), announced its support for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association's (FLEOA) letter to Congress dated April 16, 2004.

In that letter, FLEOA -- which represents more than 22,000 Federal Agents -- calls for a full-scale administrative review of the Federal Air Marshal (FAM) program to identify and rectify obvious security flaws.

FLEOA and APA believe significant changes must be made immediately to protect the identities of our nation's Federal Air Marshals and preserve the program's effectiveness.

"One of the most essential elements of the Federal Air Marshal Program is the ability of Federal Air Marshals to maintain secrecy as to their tactics and identities," said Captain John E. Darrah. APA President. "To that end, we recommend overhauling current policies governing attire, checkpoint bypass procedures and boarding procedures. Current policies will compromise the Federal Air Marshals' mission.

"The Federal Air Marshal program and the Federal Flight Deck Officer program -- which arms pilots against a terrorist takeover of an airliner -- together provide essential, complimentary layers of security for our country's air transport system," said Darrah. "We must ensure that both programs are as effective and secure as possible."

For further details or to obtain a copy of FLEOA's April 16 letter, log onto FLEOA's Web Site at www.fleoa.org or call 305-491-4687.

Founded in 1963, APA is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.