Legislation to Ban Flight Training for Foreigners

OKLAHOMA CITY - Many Oklahomans were shocked when evidence pointed to a connection between an Oklahoma flight school and at least one of the suspected terrorists linked to the September 11th attack on America.

In an effort to derail any similar terrorist training in Oklahoma in the future, Senator Kevin Easley, D- Broken Arrow, has drafted a bill that would make it unlawful for anyone to instruct someone who is not a United States citizen in learning flight skills or procedures, or participating in ground school courses.

Theres no doubt that our world has changed since September 11th, said Senator Easley. The fact that the authorities have traced at least one of the terrorists flight training back to Oklahoma serves as a wake-up call for all of us. We need to do whatever we can to ensure the safety of our citizens and keeping a closer eye on the motives of those who enroll in flight training is a significant step.

SB 1321 would also impose stifling punishments on institutions providing such training to people who are not United States citizens. If a public or private school violates the law as proposed, that institution could lose its accreditation by the State Department of Education for five years. Furthermore, if a charter school violates the provision, the charter could be revoked.

This is a new world we live in, and it requires us to be proactive and aware of the potential dangers to our families, our communities and our nation, said Easley. This legislation would provide peace of mind that weve taken significant measures to prevent possible terrorist airplane training in our state in the future.