EAA Opposes Duplicate Pilot Background Checks In New York

Proposed State Law Rejected Three Years Ago

June 29, 2006 — EAA calls proposed legislation in the State of New York that would require security background checks for all people requesting flight or ground instruction redundant, as the Federal government already performs those duties. EAA is asking its more than 13,000 members in the state to write their elected representatives and Governor George Pataki to urge their opposition to House Bill A02122.

In late 2003, the state legislature proposed similar bills that were rejected because Federal law superseded them, and EAA members were largely responsible for educating the state legislators of the existing FAA, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) laws. Now elected officials are attempting revive the criminal background check requirement, but federal laws have not changed.

"The federal government does not require criminal background checks prior to flight training," said Randy Hansen, EAA government relations director. "They do require non-U.S. citizens to receive background checks if they meet the requirements of the DHS and TSA Flight School Security Awareness laws.

"The bottom line is background checks required by New York House Bill A02122 are superseded by existing Federal laws.

"National Security issues are handled by national security agencies."