“We are taking an important step to give pilots a fighting chance should terrorists try to duplicate the acts of September 11 that transformed innocent means of transportation into devastating weapons of destruction,” Nussle said.

“The ongoing threat of terrorism is real,” Nussle continued. “The results of recent security tests are a reminder that people carrying weapons may still find a way to get through airport security. Something further must be done.”

“Pilots have voiced convincing, nearly unanimous support for using firearms to protect their passengers, their planes and themselves,” Nussle said.

The Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act, H.R. 4635, authorizes a program to deputize pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. Before being deputized, pilots will undergo Transportation Security Administration (TSA) training. The TSA will establish protocols for carrying guns, including where they will be stored and what type will be used.

Preference will be given to pilots who have served in the military or law enforcement, but participation will be voluntary. After three years, the program will be evaluated. Also included in the bill is a provision for flight attendant self-defense training.

“Allowing pilots to carry handguns will place the least amount of inconvenience on the normal law abiding citizen, while at the same time making air travel safer,” Nussle said.