County Supervisors Call For Stricter Flight School Laws On 9/11 Anniversary

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will consider Tuesday supporting federal legislation to tighten scrutiny on foreign nationals who attempt to receive flight training in the United States.

The supervisors also will consider a proposed local ordinance to require 11 flight schools that operate at San Diego County-run airports to comply with vetting and screening programs for foreign students.

The proposal by Supervisor Dianne Jacobs calls it a "travesty" that 11 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, federal agencies have not done enough to prevent a reoccurrence. She cited a July report from the General Accounting Office that said foreign nationals who are security risks could use loopholes in order to receive flight training.

Several of the 9/11 hijackers lived in San Diego, but did not receive flight training in the area. Several of the others trained in other cities.

HR 6159 would require all foreign nationals who apply to flight schools be checked against a terrorist watch list. The federal bill has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Transportation.

The supervisors also will consider supporting a community group's request to change the name of the backcountry town of Jacumba back to the original, Jacumba Hot Springs.

Jacob said the Jacumba Sponsor Group applied for the name change to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the body that determines place names and their uniform usage throughout the federal government. The board has requested the input of the supervisors, according to Jacob.

–City News Service

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