Copyright 2002 The Chronicle Publishing Co.  

The San Francisco Chronicle
MAY 1, 2002, WEDNESDAY, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A5

LENGTH: 516 words

HEADLINE: Proposal to arm pilots revived;

But Bush, airlines, many lawmakers still oppose guns in cockpits

SOURCE: Chronicle Washington Bureau

BYLINE: Edward Epstein

DATELINE: Washington

BODY:
Two senior House Republicans have bucked the Bush administration and airlines by proposing that pilots be allowed to carry firearms to fight off terrorists.

But the negative reaction by Bay Area Democrats on the House Transportation Committee, and the cool reception by the airlines, the White House and Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, show that the pilots and their backers face an uphill struggle.

The Airline Pilots Association, which represents 66,000 pilots at 43 airlines, says that 73 percent of its members polled support a voluntary program permitting them to carry guns in the cockpit.

Even with the added security measures put in place at airports and aboard planes since the Sept. 11 suicide hijackings, the pilots say, they still feel vulnerable as the last line of defense for their planes and passengers.

The new measures include armed air marshals on many commercial flights and reinforced cabin doors. Mineta is expected soon to allow pilots and attendants to use stun guns to disable would-be hijackers or other disruptive passengers.

But Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, chairman of the Transportation Committee, said on Tuesday that arming pilots is vital. "Under the current situation, it's a necessary step to guarantee the safety of passengers," he said.

"Why should the pilot not be allowed the ability to defend himself, his passengers and his plane?" asked Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who heads the aviation subcommittee. "He should at least have a fighting chance."

Under the aviation security bill passed last fall, Mineta could allow pilots to arm themselves but is not required to do so.

Under the Young-Mica proposal introduced Tuesday, pilots who volunteer would undergo firearms training and be deputized as Federal Flight Deck Officers -- to relieve airlines' fears about liability if something goes wrong.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Walnut Creek, said she opposes firearms in the cockpit.

"We already have air marshals and the cockpits are generally so small that you'd have to levitate, do a '180' and the hijacker would still already be on you," said Tauscher, an aviation subcommittee member.

"I'm willing to talk about nonlethal security devices near the cockpit," she added, pointing out that pilots have access to emergency axes in the cockpit.

Steve Luckey, a Northwest Airlines pilot and a pilots' union leader, said many pilots became convinced they needed firearms after hearing that President Bush had authorized military forces after Sept. 11 to shoot down hijacked civilian planes to prevent another such terrorist attack.

"We need to take the next step to ensure we have something between the door and F-15s and F-16s that might shoot us down," Luckey said.

But Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, said pilots have enough to handle without also serving as security officers for their airplanes.

"The idea of pilots carrying firearms is another thing to distract them from their main task -- safely flying the plane," said Honda, who also serves on the aviation subcommittee.E-mail Edward Epstein at eepstein@sfchronicle.com.

LOAD-DATE: May 1, 2002