Federal Aviation Administration August 27, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is withdrawing the NPRM published on January 14, 2003, that proposed to require airplanes operated in domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to ensure immediate activation and continuous transmission of the designated hijack alert code to air traffic control (ATC) during a hijack situation. After September 11, 2001, the increased threat of hijacking and realization that a plane could be used as a weapon became the basis for the proposed rule. The intent was to provide the flight crew of commercial airplanes with the ability to initiate an immediate national security response in the event of a hijacking. The overwhelming majority of comments opposed the proposal for several reasons. Because of the reasons given, including completed security enhancements to strengthen flightdeck doors, we are withdrawing the proposal. Current regulations ensure an adequate level of aviation security.