I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1587
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the transportation of
chemical oxygen generators as cargo on any aircraft carrying passengers
or cargo in air commerce, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 13, 1997
Mr. RUSH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit the trans-
portation of chemical oxygen generators as cargo on any
aircraft carrying passengers or cargo in air commerce,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Airline Passenger Safe-
ty Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. AIR TRANSPORTATION OF OXIDIZING MATERIALS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5114
the following:
‘‘§ 5114a. Air transportation of oxidizing materials
‘‘(a) CHEMICAL OXYGEN GENERATORS.—A chemical
oxygen generator may not be transported as cargo on any
aircraft carrying passengers or cargo in air commerce (as
defined in section 40102(a) of this title), regardless of
whether the generator has been discharged.
‘‘(b) OXIDIZERS
AND
OXIDIZING
MATERIALS.—
Oxidizers and oxidizing materials (other than chemical ox-
ygen generators) may be transported in the cargo com-
partment of an aircraft carrying passengers or cargo in
air commerce (as defined in section 40102(a) of this title)
only if the cargo compartment is equipped with—
‘‘(1) a separate approved smoke detector or fire
detector system to give warning at the pilot or flight
engineer station; and
‘‘(2) an approved built-in fire extinguishing sys-
tem controllable from the pilot or flight engineer sta-
tion.
‘‘(c) PROCEDURES.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall prescribe procedures for monitoring and en-
forcing regulations prescribed under this section.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 51 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relat-
ing to section 5114 the following:
‘‘5114a. Air transportation of oxidizing materials.’’.
SEC. 3. CARGO COMPARTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall modify regulations contained in
part 25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (relating
to airworthiness standards for transport category air-
planes), to require that each Class D cargo or baggage
compartment (as defined in section 25.857 of such title)
be equipped with—
(1) a separate approved smoke detector or fire
detector system to give warning at the pilot or flight
engineer station; and
(2) an approved built-in fire extinguishing sys-
tem controllable from the pilot or flight engineer sta-
tion.
SEC. 4. PRACTICES AND TRAINING FOR HANDLING PAS-
SENGER BAGGAGE AND CARGO.
(a) EVALUATION.—The Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration shall conduct an evaluation of the
practices of, and training provided by, all air carriers for
accepting passenger baggage and freight shipments (in-
cluding company materials) and for identifying undeclared
or unauthorized hazardous materials. The evaluation shall
apply to any person, including ramp personnel, who ac-
cepts baggage or cargo for transport on passenger or
cargo aircraft.
(b) REVISION OF PRACTICES AND TRAINING.—Based
on the evaluation conducted under subsection (a), the Ad-
ministrator shall require all air carriers to revise, as nec-
essary, practices and training for accepting passenger bag-
gage and freight shipments and for identifying undeclared
or unauthorized hazardous materials that are offered for
transport.
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