ALPA Applauds Bipartisan Bill That Addresses Security Threat Created by Public Charter Loophole

McLean, Va.— Today, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) applauded Representatives Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) for reintroducing the Safer Skies Act, which would ensure that carriers operating under the less restrictive Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 and Part 380 public charter rules are held to the same security standards as every other scheduled passenger carrier in the United States.

“Allowing Part 135/Part 380 operators to take advantage of less strict security protocols introduces risk into our aviation system, and we are grateful for Representatives Langworthy and Veasey for their leadership on this issue. Passengers deserve the same high level of aviation security regardless of their departure point and destination,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president.

The Safer Skies Act requires TSA to hold Part 135 and Part 380 air carriers that operate scheduled commercial service for passenger operations with more than nine seats to the same security standards as any other scheduled passenger carrier in the U.S. Concerningly, a number of Part 135 and Part 380 operators currently conduct scheduled flights to ticketed passengers with publicly available schedules to and from facilities that do not have the same level of passenger security screening as required for scheduled commercial airline operations under FAR Part 121.

 “By addressing the security threats created by the loophole, we close a dangerous precedent that would spark a race to the bottom and wholly undermine aviation security. The Safer Skies Act is one important step toward what our industry needs at this critical moment in history,” said Ambrosi. 

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org