File #: Res 0231-2004    Version: * Name: Require criminal background checks on all applicants for flight instruction, pilot licenses and the renewal of a pilot license.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on State and Federal Legislation
On agenda: 3/24/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States of America to enact legislation that requires criminal background checks on all applicants for flight instruction, pilot licenses and the renewal of a pilot license and to reject such applications if a felony conviction is revealed.
Sponsors: Erik Martin Dilan, Tony Avella, Tracy L. Boyland, Lewis A. Fidler, Alan J. Gerson, Margarita Lopez, Miguel Martinez, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jr., Peter F. Vallone, Jr., Melinda R. Katz, Michael C. Nelson, James S. Oddo
Council Member Sponsors: 13
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
6/22/2004*Erik Martin Dilan City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
6/22/2004*Erik Martin Dilan Committee on State and Federal Legislation Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
6/22/2004*Erik Martin Dilan Committee on State and Federal Legislation Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/24/2004*Erik Martin Dilan City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/24/2004*Erik Martin Dilan City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 231

 

Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States of America to enact legislation that requires criminal background checks on all applicants for flight instruction, pilot licenses and the renewal of a pilot license and to reject such applications if a felony conviction is revealed.

 

 By Council Members Dilan, Avella, Boyland, Fidler, Gerson, Lopez, Martinez, Rivera, Sanders, Vallone, Katz, Nelson and Oddo

 

                     Whereas, On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by terrorists who hijacked four commercial airplanes and used them as weapons of destruction; and

                     Whereas, Some of the terrorists from the September 11th attacks received flight training in flight schools located within the United States; and

                     Whereas, On December 28, 2003, forty-seven year old Richard Langone flew a private single engine plane through restricted air-space over New York City during a “Code Orange” alert and buzzed the Statute of Liberty before being escorted back to Long Island by a police helicopter; and

                     Whereas, Richard Langone was a convicted murderer who had spent sixteen years in prison; and

Whereas, The Congress of the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration each have certain authority over the aviation industry in the United States of America; and

Whereas, There is currently no federal law, rule or regulation that requires criminal background checks on every person that applies for flight instruction, a pilot license or the renewal of a pilot license; and

Whereas, A federal requirement of criminal background checks for pilot licenses and their renewal could potentially reduce the amount of drug trafficking that takes place because, according to both the United States Customs and Border Control and Drug Enforcement Administration, private aircraft remains one of the vehicles for transporting illegal drugs into the United States; and

Whereas, In light of the September 11th attacks, criminal background checks should be preformed on all applicants for flight instruction or a pilot license and before the renewal of a pilot license in order to reduce the likelihood of further terrorist attacks; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Congress of the United States of America to introduce and enact legislation that requires criminal background checks on all applicants for flight instruction, pilot licenses and the renewal of a pilot license and to reject such applications if a felony conviction is revealed.

 

LS # 201

3/5/04

AIS