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 Senate OKs Arming Airline Pilots
By LESLIE MILLER 

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to allow commercial
pilots to carry weapons in the cockpit after the Bush administration dropped
its opposition to the idea.

The administration, though, said a number of safety and logistical issues
needed to be resolved.

In a letter to two senators, the White House recommended giving pilots
lockboxes for the weapons so they won't be left in the cockpit. It also said
only pilots who volunteer to carry weapons and receive extensive training
should be armed.

Al Aitken, a pilot speaking for the 14,500-member union representing American
Airlines pilots, which supports arming pilots, said the 87-6 vote meant the
Senate recognized that all the security layers the administration is putting
into place are still inadequate.

``The people who need the weapons as a last line of defense are the pilots,''
he said. ``They're the only ones they're trying to keep the gun from,'' he
said, adding that thousands of state and federal law enforcement officers
travel on planes while armed.

Until the early 1960s, federal regulations required pilots to carry guns when
they flew a plane carrying U.S. mail, Aitken said.

The heads of 21 airlines, which oppose the measure, sent a letter to each
senator Thursday saying they wanted to discuss the idea of arming pilots with
Congress and the administration.

``It must be noted, however, that while we are spending literally billions of
dollars to keep dangerous weapons off of aircraft, the idea of intentionally
introducing thousands of deadly weapons in to the system appears to be
dangerously counterproductive,'' the letter said.

To address some of the airlines' concerns, the administration suggested a
``detailed, effective'' training program be designed from scratch and tested
before an estimated 85,000 pilots are allowed to carry weapons.

The administration also warned the cost would be significant - $900 million to
start and $250 million annually thereafter - and said there is no money now in
the Transportation Security Administration budget to cover the expenses.

How long it would take to arm the first pilot is a question that still has to
be answered, said Robert Johnson, spokesman for the Transportation Security
Administration.

The letter from TSA chief James Loy was delivered to Sens. Ernest Hollings,
D-S.C., and John McCain, R-Ariz., as the Senate debated the measure that would
allow all pilots to carry guns into the cockpit. Hollings is chairman of the
Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee; McCain is the committee's ranking
Republican.

``If there is to be responsible legislation establishing a program to allow
guns in the cockpit, it must address the numerous safety, security, cost and
operational issues,'' Loy wrote.

Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., offered the amendment to the homeland security bill
that would prohibit airlines and the federal government from barring armed
pilots.

``We prefer a more comprehensive approach in our amendment, but are grateful
for any efforts by the administration to roll the ball down the field,'' said
Smith's spokeswoman, Lisa Harrison.

The chairman of the House Transportation Committee's aviation subcommittee,
Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said pilots should be armed at least until bulletproof
cockpit doors are installed in all planes.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that manufacturers and
airlines agree an April 9 deadline to install the new doors can be met.

Mica said the administration realized that the momentum in Congress favoring
arming pilots is strong. The House passed a bill 310-113 in July to create a
program that would train and arm some pilots who volunteer as special deputies.

Hollings opposed the measure until it was amended to require that cabin doors
be locked throughout the flight, which is the policy of the Israeli airline El
Al.

Transportation Undersecretary John Magaw, who headed the TSA until July, said
in May he would not allow pilots to carry guns. Reinforced cockpits and armed
air marshals provide enough protection against terrorists who try to take over
an airplane, Magaw said.

After Magaw's departure, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said he would
re-examine the issue.

Voting against the measure were Sens. Jon Corzine, D-N.J.; James Jeffords,
I-Vt.; Arlen Specter, R-Pa.; Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; and
Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I. Not voting were Sens. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii; Joseph
Biden, D-Del.; Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; John Ensign, R-Nev.; Tom Harkin, D-Iowa;
Jesse Helms, R-N.C.; and Robert Torricelli, D-N.J.

On the Net: Loy's letter:
http://hollings.senate.gov/materials/ltr.loytsa-efh.pdf 



09/05/02 19:43 

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contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise
distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
    




 
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