Armed air police heading our way

Both Qantas and Air NZ international flights would be affected by the proposed law

The Government is moving to introduce a new law to allow armed marshals to ride on aircraft in New Zealand skies.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven has confirmed to the Weekend Herald that an amendment to the Aviation Security Bill will clear the way for aircraft to carry "in-flight security officers" if a perceived airborne terrorist threat should emerge.

He emphasised that a need for their services had yet to arise - and may never do so - but said New Zealand had to be able to move fast to respond to any change in its security status.

The legislation would also allow overseas airlines to carry air marshals now banned from flights to New Zealand.

It is understood New Zealand has turned down past applications for marshals to fly here. Qantas carries armed Australian federal police as marshals on some international flights, but not to New Zealand.

"Merely having legislation which is permissive doesn't actually mean we will ever have air marshals," Mr Duynhoven said.

"At the moment there is no signal I'm aware of that we have any need for any additional security."

His disclosure came just after American air marshals shot dead a man who claimed to have a bomb on an aircraft in Miami, but who was unarmed and suffering a mental disorder.

Armed US air marshals disguised as passengers are placed on thousands of flights each week in an effort to prevent attacks on civilian planes. After September 11, the number of marshals went from 33 to thousands. The exact number is classified.

In December 2003, the US Government ordered foreign airlines to put armed marshals on selected flights to further boost security on aircraft flying to, from and over the US.

Mr Duynhoven said the Miami incident was a "pretty big wake-up call" about how security was managed.

He said the Aviation Security Service's systems for screening passengers and baggage here were well-regarded internationally.

"They are regarded as the best in the business"

Security service chief executive Mark Everitt said he believed it was the high regard US regulators held for his agency's training procedures that had spared Air New Zealand from having armed marshals on flights to North America.

Air New Zealand refused to comment on the proposed legislation.

But Air Line Pilots Association spokesman Captain Paul Lyons said his preference was the Aviation Security Service's focus on preventing any threats becoming airborne.

If a decision was made to introduce air marshals, pilots would want to be consulted fully on procedures and training standards.