Tue, May 13, 2003
Inspect 'Em Closely And Give 'Em Guns
The president of the world's largest union of airline pilots
praised the U.S. Senate for approving legislation to strengthen air
cargo security. The "Air Cargo Security Act" (S.165), introduced by
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) in January, rectifies the
exclusion of all-cargo pilots from the original legislation in the
Homeland Security Act.
"We applaud the Senate action to strengthen security for the
cargo airlines," said Capt. Duane Woerth, president of ALPA. "This
legislation represents a significant step toward achieving the one
level of security that is vital to our industry and homeland
defense. It also affords the opportunity for cargo crewmembers to
volunteer for the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, an important
measure considering that numerous personnel and guest cargo
'handlers' fly on cargo aircraft."
Inspections At Home And Abroad
The legislation would require that cargo facilities be
inspected, and, that the federal government work with other
countries to conduct regular checks at facilities overseas where
cargo bound for the United States is handled. It would also call
for cargo-only airlines to develop a security plan for their
facilities, operations, and employees that includes background
checks and tamper-proof employee identification cards.
On May 8, the House of Representatives Aviation Subcommittee of
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure cleared a
provision to arm cargo cockpit crews in H.R.765, similar to the
Senate bill's provision. When Capt. Woerth testified before the
Committee on May 8, he asked the Committee to support H.R.765,
which would authorize cargo pilots to carry guns.
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