Legislation Aimed At Protecting Airliners Against Growing Threat

US Representatives Steve Israel's (D-NY) and Melissa Bean's (D-IL) legislation to protect commercial airliners against shoulder-fired missile attack drew strong support from the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) Friday.

"It's vital for Congress to take action to protect the traveling public from a very real terrorist threat," said Capt. Jon Safley, president of CAPA. "These weapons have already been used by al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. An attack here in the United States could result in a double tragedy, with devastating loss of life and a serious blow to the nation's economy."

Over the last three decades, about 700,000 shoulder-mounted missiles have been manufactured in various countries around the world. During that time there have been at least 35 reported instances of civilian aircraft being targeted by such weapons.

Often referred to as MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems), these missiles are widely available on the black market for as little as $5,000 and have been fired at commercial aircraft in Kenya and Iraq within the past three years.

"The MANPADS threat is real," said Safley. "Just a few months ago, the FBI caught a major arms ring peddling these missiles and other Soviet weapons in the heart of New York City. And the most wanted terrorist in Iraq has posted detailed MANPADS information on his website."

In March, an Arabic website used by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda's senior operative in Iraq, posted diagrams of terrorists firing a missile at an airliner from a rooftop and described tactics to evade capture afterwards. The site also displayed flight paths and security perimeters at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Department of Homeland Security has invested $120 million in a program to adapt military missile defense technology for commercial use, in cooperation with Northrup Grumman and British Aerospace Engineering Systems (BAE). Earlier this year, an American Airlines 767 jet was fitted with a trial version of the laser-guided system, which is expected to cost between $1 million and $2 million per plane.

The proposed congressional legislation would require the Secretary of Transportation to purchase the missile defense systems to protect the nation's fleet of 6,800 commercial aircraft. Rep. Israel has described the risk of a shoulder-mounted missile attack as a "glaring vulnerability" in U.S. aviation security.

"We have the technology to handle this threat," said Safley. "The expense of installing missile defense systems pales in comparison to the price tags of modern commercial aircraft and the thousands of lives at risk. We commend Reps. Israel and Bean for taking the initiative to protect the traveling public and we urge Congress to pass this bill quickly."

FMI: www.capapilots.org