Skip to main content
S 2554 107th Congress Senate Transportation and Public Works Administrative procedure Air piracy Aircraft pilots Airline employees Armed Forces and National Security Commercial aircraft Congress Congressional reporting requirements Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal justice information Curricula Damages Department of Transportation EBB Terrorism Employee training Executive reorganization Federal law enforcement officers Firearms Flight crews

Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002

Introduced: May 23, 2002 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 107th Congress ended
It never became law before the 107th Congress (2001–2002) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 23, 2002
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4842-4843)
May 23, 2002
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4841-4842)
May 23, 2002
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 4,205 — — Pending Jul 10, 2002
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002 - Amends federal law to direct the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to establish a program to: (1) deputize volunteer qualified pilots of commercial cargo or passenger aircraft as Federal flight deck officers; and (2) provide training, supervision, and equipment for such officers.

Authorizes flight deck officers to carry firearms and to use force, including lethal force, when they judge the security of an aircraft is at risk. Shields air carriers from liability for damages in Federal or State court arising out of the actions or omissions of a flight deck officer defending a plane from criminal violence or air piracy. Shields flight deck officers from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Directs the Under Secretary to prescribe requirements for an air carrier cabin crew training program and its instructors. Shields an air carrier liability for actions or omissions of training instructors or cabin crew in defending an aircraft. Shields training instructors and cabin crew from liability except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Directs the Under Secretary to form an Aviation Crew Self-Defense Division within the Transportation Security Administration to develop and implement the program for training cabin crew members.

Directs the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to study and report to Congress on whether possession of a nonlethal weapon by a member of an air carrier's cabin crew would aid the flight deck crew in combating air piracy and criminal violence on commercial airlines.

What's happening now May 23, 2002

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4842-4843)

 Related & companion bills 4
  • HR 4635 Related bill Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act
  • HR 5005 Related bill Homeland Security Act of 2002
  • HR 5710 Related bill Homeland Security Information Sharing Act
  • S 2546 Related bill Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Sep 3, 2002
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Jun 6, 2002
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2554: Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002. 107th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-2554/
MLA
"S. 2554: Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002." 107th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-2554/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2554, 107th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-2554/.
Markdown link
[S. 2554: Arming Pilots Against Terrorism and Cabin Defense Act of 2002](https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-2554/)
Report a problem