Legislators urge application of full travel safety law

Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are imploring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to enforce their travel safety law, which they maintain is not currently being applied as required.

The Saracini Aviation Act requires the installation of a secondary cockpit barrier between the passenger cabin and cockpit door on each new aircraft that is purchased by a commercial passenger air carrier in the United States.

Casey and Toomey have forwarded correspondence to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao noting some airline industry personnel have attempted to argue the Saracini Aviation Act only applies to new models of aircraft. The senators said the legislation specifically applies to all new aircraft for commercial passenger air carriers in the United States, not just new types, or models, of aircraft.

“This misinterpretation falls well outside the letter of the law and the intent of Congress,” the lawmakers wrote. “Had our goal been to change the certification requirements to apply to each type of new aircraft, the language would have specifically stated new type certificated aircraft. Instead, the Senate and the House chose this language, which clearly expresses Congress’ requirement that physically installed secondary barriers exist on all newly manufactured aircraft delivered to part 121 passenger air carriers.”

Casey and Toomey also added the same groups that opposed the inclusion of the requirement during consideration of the FAA reauthorization are also trying to restrict the application of the new law.

“We are looking forward to seeing a directive from the FAA mandating secondary barriers on these aircraft no later than Oct. 5, 2019, as required by law,” the legislators concluded.