Mon, Mar 12, 2007
Legislation Introduced Last Week
The
Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents pilots at
American Airlines, expressed its support last week for the
Improving America's Security Act of 2007 introduced before Congress
last week, and urged lawmakers to pass the legislation without
further delay. APA representatives tell ANN the bill is designed to
address shortcomings in the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO)
program.
"Senator Bunning's amendment significantly improves the FFDO
program by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to
implement the program as Congress originally intended," said
Captain Ralph Hunter, president of the Allied Pilots Association.
"The improvements will attract more pilots into the program by
eliminating needless restrictions and will also expand coverage to
international flights."
According to Hunter, many pilots have declined participation
because of the Transportation Security Administration's cumbersome
application and participation requirements, non-standard badging
and weapons restrictions, requirement for pilots to train at their
own expense and the inability to protect international flights.
The proposed legislation -- which comes about from combined
efforts of US Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY), APA's Committee for Armed
Defense of the Cockpit (CADC), the Coalition of Airline Pilots
Association and the Federal Flight Deck Officer's Association --
proposes changes in five areas of concern:
- Eliminates the lock box and permits FFDOs to carry their weapon
on their person like other federal officers.
- Permits FFDOs to carry firearms on international flights.
- Provides a metal badge for identification of FFDOs to other law
enforcement officers in a crisis.
- Provides due process protection to applicants and participants
in the program.
- Holds the US State Department accountable to Congress for
progress in negotiating agreements with foreign
countries for FFDO carriage.
"We have been very pleased with administration of the program
under the Federal Air Marshal Service," said First Officer Mike
Karn, who chairs APA's CADC. "However, this amendment is essential
to ensure the FFDO program operates as originally intended by
Congress. It is imperative that this program be permitted to
function effectively as a first line of deterrence and last line of
defense against the hostile takeover of a US airliner."
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