Support Growing on Hill to Arm Commercial Pilots

Momentum is building in Congress for a proposal to arm America’s commercial airline pilots to protect against terrorist hijackings, even though Bush administration officials have opposed it.

At a hearing Thursday before a House aviation panel, some members of both houses endorsed legislation to let pilots have guns available to foil takeovers.

“Arming trained and qualified flight crew members is a necessary step to ensure the safety and security of the flying public,” said Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation aviation subcommittee and sponsor of a bill to arm pilots.

“Nothing else can provide the deterrence or effectiveness of a weapon wielded by a highly trained individual.”

Four senators--Republicans Bob Smith of New Hampshire, Frank H. Murkowski of Alaska and Conrad R. Burns of Montana and Democrat Zell Miller of Georgia--are writing their own bill to arm pilots.

Other lawmakers, however, said arming pilots would detract from their main job.

“Their primary duty is to see that the plane is flown and landed safely,” said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas).

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge have said they oppose arming pilots, but John Magaw, undersecretary for Transportation Security, said a final decision has not been made.

“Let’s let all the information come forward,” Magaw said.

Mineta has said that guns are not needed because cockpit doors have been reinforced, preventing terrorists from commandeering airplanes.

Transportation officials also are reviewing whether to allow nonlethal weapons, such as stun guns, in the cockpits. A study by the National Institute of Justice found that such weapons could allow flight crews to thwart a hijacking attempt.

“These weapons have the potential to interrupt an attack, control the aggressor or delay an attack while the flight crew safely lands the plane,” said Sarah Hart, director of the institute’s Office of Justice Programs. “However, substantial testing is required before informed decisions can be made as to whether these weapons should be deployed on commercial airlines.”

Pilots unions have been lobbying for guns in the cockpits, sending a letter to President Bush and launching a petition drive that had attracted more than 44,000 signatures through Wednesday, according to the Web site of the Allied Pilots Assn.

“Our pilots have requested the ability to defend themselves,” Mica said. “They are our last line of defense and should have at least a fighting chance.”