Barbara Boxer: “this amendment is to close a loophole in the Federal Flight Deck Officer program. Last year, in response to the…”

“this amendment is to close a loophole in the Federal Flight Deck Officer program. Last year, in response to the September 11 attacks, I worked along with our former colleague Senator Bob Smith to pass the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act, which allowed passenger and cargo pilots who volunteer and receive special training to have guns in the cockpit as a last line of defense. The bill passed the Senate 87-6 as an amendment to the Homeland Security bill. Unfortunately, during the Homeland Security conference, cargo pilots were left out of the program. This amendment will close this dangerous loophole in the law and add an important new layer to our homeland security by allowing cargo pilots to participate in the Federal Flight Deck Officer program. With less security than passenger aircraft, cargo planes are tempting targets for terrorists. These planes do not have strengthened cockpit doors, Federal Air Marshals, trained cabin crew, or alert passengers on board. Cargo planes are usually more vulnerable on the tarmac than passenger aircraft. Most cargo planes are parked in remote areas with relatively easy access; many operate at airfields that do not have the same level of security as passenger airports. Late last year in Fargo, ND, a mentally unbalanced woman walked across a runway, boarded a cargo aircraft, entered the cockpit, and asked the crew to fly her to California. Just think what a terrorist could do.…”