New Jersey legislators have backed off on a plan to fingerprint and do background checks on aircraft renters and student pilots. The state’s Senate Transportation Committee was supposed to consider Bill 1438 on Monday but committee members postponed the discussion, opting to let those who actually have responsibility in such matters (i.e., the FAA, the new Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration and other federal agencies) see what they can do, first. The Jersey bill would require anyone renting an aircraft or taking flight training to have a state-issued ID card. Those convicted of certain crimes wouldn’t be issued a card. The National Air Transportation Association is thanking the Jersey senators for filing the bill and, politely, of course, urging them to continue minding their own business.
Pilot IDs Shelved In New Jersey
Key Takeaways:
- New Jersey legislators have postponed a bill (1438) that would have required state-issued ID cards, fingerprinting, and background checks for aircraft renters and student pilots.
- The state's Senate Transportation Committee opted to defer to federal agencies like the FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and TSA to manage aviation security.
- Aviation organizations, such as the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), advocated for federal, rather than state, oversight of these security measures.
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