A pilot group gave the US government failing grades on Thursday on measures from screening airport employees to defending planes from missiles, despite large amounts of money spent after September 11, 2001.

The Coalition of Airline Pilots Association gave "F" grades to the government in screening employees and cargo, high-tech credentialing of crew members, self-defense training for crew and the plan for countering shoulder-fired missiles.

"This is not a very pretty report card and the American public should be very concerned," said Jon Safley, president of the trade group. "Our government has yet to fill gaps we as pilots see as we continue to fly the American public day in and day out."

The group's Aviation Security Report Card gave the federal government average to failing grades in over a dozen subject areas. There were two bright spots: bag screening and reinforcing cockpit doors on commercial planes.

But the pilots said even though large amounts of money had been spent on aviation security since Sept. 11, 2001, hijack attacks, there were still gaping holes.

Transportation Security Administration officials did not return calls seeking comment on the pilots' report card or the senators' criticism of rail security.

The pilots' group said that while screening of airline passengers and their bags had improved since September 11, screening of ramp employees and cargo was still lacking.

"This is a glaring deficiency that could easily allow a terrorist to place bombs or weapons aboard one of our airplanes," Safley said.

"One level of security must apply to protect the American public," said Safley, whose group represents about 22,000 pilots from American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways and UPS.

Perimeter security of airports was inconsistent around the country, he said. Planes are vulnerable to shoulder-fired missile attacks and the government has done little to respond to the threat, Safley said.

The Department of Homeland Security is studying how to adapt anti-missile technology to commercial airliners.

The pilots' group cited poor sharing of information on potential threats to aircraft and said airlines did not share the crucial information with their captains because the government had not mandated it.

"Today I personally challenge the TSA to fix this problem," said Safley. "This is clearly a no-brainer."