Jim Inhofe: “This provision, which was adopted in committee as part of S. 1259, has the unintended effect of raising serious safety…”

“This provision, which was adopted in committee as part of S. 1259, has the unintended effect of raising serious safety concerns for general aviation pilots. It would make it a criminal offense if a pilot knowingly disobeys an order to land, but there is no explicit requirement for reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. It also could make an aircraft owner responsible for paying thousands of dollars to reclaim their aircraft, even if they are totally innocent of any wrongdoing. As the Senator knows, I have been a pilot for over 40 years, and I understand that an 'order to land' could be a dangerous and traumatic experience for a pilot. In fact, the International Standards, Rules of the Air, published by the International Civil Aviation Organization says 'interceptions of civil aircraft are, in all cases, potentially hazardous.' However, because of the potential danger and immense burden to pilots, I believe some relatively minor changes should be made to the amendment.”