I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3171
To direct the Attorney General to establish a program for the certification
of Federal pilot officers, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 25, 2001
Mr. BARTON of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To direct the Attorney General to establish a program for
the certification of Federal pilot officers, 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 ‘‘Federal Pilot Officer
Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked
4 civilian aircraft, crashing 2 of the aircraft into the
towers of the World Trade Center in New York,
New York, and a third aircraft into the Pentagon
outside of the District of Columbia.
(2) Thousands of innocent Americans and citi-
zens of other countries were killed or injured as a
result of these attacks, including the passengers and
crew of the 4 aircraft, workers in the World Trade
Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers, and by-
standers.
(3) These attacks destroyed both towers of the
World Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings,
and seriously damaged the Pentagon.
(4) These attacks were by far the deadliest ter-
rorist attacks ever launched against the United
States and, by targeting symbols of America, clearly
were intended to intimidate the Nation and weaken
its resolve.
(5) Armed pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
with proper training will be the last line of defense
against terrorists by providing cockpit security and
aircraft security.
(6) Secured doors separating the crew cabin
from the passenger cabin have been effective in de-
terring hijackings in other nations and will serve as
a deterrent to future contemplated acts of terrorism
in the United States.
SEC. 3. AVIATION SAFETY; SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM
ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.
(a) POSSESSION
OF FIREARMS
ON COMMERCIAL
FLIGHTS.—No Federal department or agency may pro-
hibit a pilot, copilot, or flight engineer of a commercial
aircraft who has successfully completed the requirements
of subsection (b), or any qualified law enforcement per-
sonnel specifically detailed for the protection of a commer-
cial aircraft, who is not otherwise prohibited by law from
possessing a firearm, from possessing or carrying a fire-
arm for the protection of the aircraft.
(b) FEDERAL PILOT OFFICERS.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Attor-
ney General shall establish a program to select, cer-
tify, train, and supervise qualified volunteer pilots,
copilots, and flight engineers who shall be deputized
as Federal pilot officers. Officers certified under the
program shall be responsible for defending the lives
of the individuals in the cockpit of a commercial air-
craft.
(2) TRAINING AND SUPERVISION; BACKGROUND
AND FITNESS EXAMINATIONS.—Under the program,
the Attorney General shall provide appropriate train-
ing and supervision of all Federal pilot officers, as
well as appropriate background and fitness examina-
tions of eligible candidates, as part of their certifi-
cation.
(3) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY.—The author-
ity granted to a Federal pilot officer shall be limited
to enforcing Federal law in the cockpit of a commer-
cial aircraft, as necessary to defend the aircraft.
(4) REQUESTS FOR TRAINING.—The Attorney
General shall provide appropriate training to any
pilot, copilot, or flight engineer that requests train-
ing pursuant to this subsection.
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Attorney General may pre-
scribe regulations to carry out this section.
Æ