States seek to limit flight training..
States' Bills Tighten The Noose.... .. . Fearing flight schools could yet be used to train more terrorists or otherwise sociopathic individuals, lawmakers in several states are seeking to limit instruction and require background checks for students. A bill introduced in New Jersey, for example, would require flight schools to conduct background checks and keep a register of applicants that could be made available to authorities. Students would be barred from taking classes if they had been convicted of crimes such as aggravated assault, arson or murder. South Carolina and Connecticut are considering similar legislation. In Michigan, lawmakers want schools to refuse lessons to anyone who is on probation or has had a felony conviction in the previous seven years. The FAA doesn't like having its authority usurped and believes that it should be the only agency to regulate and oversee flight school operations. "States cannot regulate students at flight schools," FAA spokesman William Shumann told the Associated Press. "The FAA has been adamant that we regulate aviation, not the states." Legislation is pending in Congress that would direct the FAA to review enrollment practices at flight schools and have them refuse instruction to students deemed a threat. Seems reasonable. After all, if background checks were required of lawmakers ... well, you know. . .. .from "Avweb" newswire service...