House committee endorses bill to prevent missile attacks on airliners

House committee endorses bill to prevent missile attacks on airliners    The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Wednesday approved legislation targeted at reducing the threat to commercial airliners from portable, shoulder-fired missiles.
   The Commercial Aviation MANPADS Defense Act of 2004 encourages the president to continue diplomatic efforts to reduce the proliferation of hand-held missile systems, which the government fears terrorist groups have or are attempting to acquire on the black weapons market. MANPADS is short for Man Portable Air Defense System.
   The bill, introduced by Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla. and two Democrats, Peter DeFazio from Oregon and Steve Israel from New York, also demands that the Federal Aviation Administration speed up certification of missile defense systems identified by the Department of Homeland Security as best candidates for installation on commercial aircraft. DHS contractors are conducting research to see how defense systems used on board military aircraft can be adapted for commercial aviation.
   The bill also requires DHS to update Congress within a year on vulnerability assessments being conducted at U.S. airports and recommend potential ground-based defense policies.