U.S. Senate Committee Acts on Flight Crew Access

On Tuesday, February 13, the Senate Commerce Committee marked-up and reported S. 509, the Aviation Security Improvement Act of 2007. Included in this measure is a provision that requires the TSA, after consultation with airline, airport and flight crew unions, to report to Congress within 180 days of enactment on the status of establishing a process that would give flight deck and cabin crew members expedited access through screening checkpoints.

The TSA is further directed to begin full implementation of the system no later than one year after submitting the report. ALPA staff worked closely with the Committee to draft this language, which was included at ALPA’s request. S. 509 will be packaged with a broader Senate bill that addresses recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that had not been previously acted upon. Further action will not take place until after the President’s Day recess.