For Immediate Release                                                                            
Contact: Diana Banister        

March 31, 2004                                                                             
Shirley & Banister Public Affairs

            (800)536-5920/(703)739-5920

PILOTS PUSH FOR IMPROVED PROGRAM

Join Senators Bunning, Boxer, Rep. Wilson to Announce

New Bill to Force TSA to Arm Pilots

WASHINGTON  --  Members of the Airline Pilots Security Alliance and other pilot organizations will join U.S. Senators Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) at a press conference Thursday, April 1, 2004, at 11:30 a.m. (EST) where they will introduce new legislation that will force the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to implement the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program as originally intended by Congress. 

Since the armed pilots program was first created by Congress nearly two years ago the TSA has been dragging its feet in arming a fraction of the 100,000 pilots eligible to be armed.  The Cockpit Security Technical Corrections and Improvement Act will remove some of the barriers put in place by the TSA, and allow pilots to be armed faster in order to protect our skies from the threat of a terrorist attack.

WHO: Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY);

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA);

Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC);

Pilots and other airline organizations

WHAT: Press Conference to introduce the Cockpit Security Technical

Corrections and Improvement Act

WHEN: Thursday, April 1, 2004 at 11:30 a.m. (EST)

WHERE: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 366

The current weapons carriage requirements are one of several key deficiencies in the present FFDO program that are responsible for a refusal by thousands of pilots to volunteer for this important program.  The Airline Pilots Security Alliance (APSA) has worked closely with members of Congress in the drafting of this legislation including adding corrections and improvements suggested by pilots with Law Enforcement experience, current Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs), and security industry experts.

"We regret that Congress has to revisit this issue," said APSA President David Mackett.  "However, we are encouraged that the passage of this legislation will result in the tens of thousands of professional airline pilots who are currently avoiding TSA's onerous program, volunteering to provide the effective deterrent layer of security that Congress originally intended."

For more information or to schedule an interview with David Mackett,

please call Diana Banister at (703)739-5920