Congress (Namely Hillary C) Attacks GA

August 11 - The media hype following four recent airspace incursions over Washington, D.C., and Camp David, Maryland, and two aircraft thefts by unlicensed young people didn't help general aviation's image in some lawmakers' minds. After suffering through repeated evacuations, lawmakers are responding with some potentially threatening legislation.

The most severe amendment, offered by New Mexico Sens. Pete Domenici (R) and Jeff Bingaman (D), calls for a $100,000 fine, confiscation of the aircraft, and a five-year loss of flying privileges for "whoever negligently flies an aircraft in a manner that violates the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) and causes the evacuation of a federal building or any other public property...."

AOPA is already talking with Domenici's office. "The proposed penalty is extraordinarily harsh—too harsh in fact—but it's clear that members of Congress want to get every pilot's attention that they will not accept any more excuses for these transgressions," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. Another amendment from Sens. Hillary R. Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), calls for a government study of general aviation security, including "the vulnerability posed to high-risk areas and facilities from general aviation aircraft that could be stolen or used as a weapon or armed with a weapon."

Meanwhile, a bill that would impose a $10,000 to $100,000 fine and a two- to five-year certificate suspension is being contemplated in the House. "We will continue to work on Capitol Hill to try to dial these measures back down to 'more reasonable,'" Boyer added. "And when you think about it, with F-16s and Patriot missile batteries stationed around the area that are ready to inflict the ultimate penalty on an errant pilot, what more deterrent could and should there be? The actions of a few bad apples are spoiling it for all the rest."