II

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1463

To provide for the safety of American aviation and the suppression of

terrorism.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 25, 2001

Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire introduced the following bill; which was read

twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To provide for the safety of American aviation and the

suppression of terrorism.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Airline Safety Act of

5 2001’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress makes the following findings:

8 (1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked

9 four civilian aircraft, crashing two of the aircraft

10 into the towers of the World Trade Center in New
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1 York, New York, and a third into the Pentagon out2 side Washington, District of Columbia.

3 (2) Thousands of innocent Americans and citi4 zens of other countries were killed or injured as a

5 result of these attacks, including the passengers and

6 crew of the four aircraft, workers in the World

7 Trade Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers,

8 and bystanders.

9 (3) These attacks destroyed both towers of the

10 World Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings,

11 and seriously damaged the Pentagon.

12 (4) These attacks were by far the deadliest ter13 rorist attacks ever launched against the United

14 States and, by targeting symbols of America, clearly

15 were intended to intimidate our Nation and weaken

16 its resolve.

17 (5) Armed pilots, co-pilots, and navigators with

18 proper training will serve as a deterrent to future

19 contemplated acts of terrorism.

20 (6) Secured doors separating the crew cabin

21 from the passenger cabin have been effective in de22 terring hijackings in other nations and will serve as

23 a deterrent to future contemplated acts of terrorism

24 in the United States.
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1 SEC. 3. AVIATION SAFETY AND SUPPRESSION OF TER2 RORISM BY COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

3 (a) POSSESSION OF FIREARMS ON COMMERCIAL

4 FLIGHTS.—No department or agency may prohibit a pilot,

5 co-pilot, or navigator of a commercial aircraft, or any law

6 enforcement personnel specifically detailed for the protec7 tion of a commercial aircraft, who is not otherwise prohib8 ited by law from possessing a firearm, from possessing or

9 carrying a firearm for the protection of the aircraft.

10 (b) REINFORCED COCKPIT DOORS ON COMMERCIAL

11 AIRCRAFT.—

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other

13 provision of law, a commercial aircraft described in

14 paragraph (2) that is operated in the United States

15 shall possess a door or doors separating the crew

16 cabin of such aircraft from the passenger cabin of

17 such aircraft, which door or doors shall be certified

18 by the Secretary as being secure against forcible

19 entry from the passenger cabin into the crew cabin

20 of such aircraft.

21 (2) COVERED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.—A com22 mercial aircraft described in this paragraph is any

23 commercial aircraft that, as determined by the Sec24 retary, is configured so as to permit a door to sepa25 rate the crew cabin and passenger cabin of such air26 craft.
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1 (c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may prescribe

2 regulations for purposes of this section.

3 (d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than six

4 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and

5 every six months thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to

6 Congress a report on the effectiveness of the requirements

7 in this section in facilitating commercial aviation safety

8 and the suppression of terrorism by commercial aircraft.

9 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect

10 on the date of the enactment of this Act.

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