Despite stiff pressure from a number of aviation member organziations, the Transportation Security Adminstration has so far not backed down from a June 1st deadline for a rule that will require all unescorted personnel to have approved badges while being on the active areas of the ramp of an airport that has commercial air service or risk huge fines and possible additional legal action.
The directive is unclear, and despite its imminent release, the rule is little known by pilots, FBO operators or security personnel. Questions abound, and it's hard to find answers for them. Exactly who needs badges and where they need them is unclear, and it 's not clear where, if anywhere, a pilot might look to find out if he, for instance, needs an escort from his airplane to the terminal building of an unfamiliar airport that he lands at after hours.
As an example of just how little known the rule is, I called the desks at my local FBOs to find out how much, if anything, they knew about the new directive. The answer in both cases was, it was the first time they'd even heard about it. The front desk attendant at Atlantic Aviation in Austin, for example, assured me in a very poilte way that I must be wrong about the directive, because he surely would have heard about such a thing. He did give me a number to get a badge, if I wanted one.
When I spoke with a TSA official at the airport who did know about the directive, I was told that Atlantic's ramps were not controlled areas--though nothing in TSA's guidance would lead one to believe that--and that the tee-hangers at Signature, further down the field, were for some reason required-badge areas, though they're hundreds of yards further way from the airline terminal. And in case you were wondering, there are no markings or signs of any kind to indicate which areas are prohibited and which are not.
What the rule requires is equally unclear. Do pilots who fly in to an airport served by even one airline flight a day require a badge, FOR THAT SPECIFIC AIRPORT? The rule seems to suggest they do. This is, of course, an absurdity. I counted: last year I landed at 32 different airports that I think have airline service, and I might have missed a couple. How could a pilot be expected to get badges for every one of those airports--would a personal visit be required for the fingerprinting and background check application?
To add insult to injury, the TSA is instituting this rule by way of a security rule process, which seems little more than a way for the TSA to put forth the rule and not have to address what it knows will be a deluge of negative comments.
And we agree. It's time to contact your elected officials and ask them to put pressure on the TSA to do the right thing here. The rule, in our opinion, would be confusing, unevenly implemented, randomly enforced, and completely unfunded. AND it would do no positive good toward improving security.
All Comments
That's ACORN that would the brown shirts. This shouldn't be a surprise, even though it is shockingly ridiculous, because the figurehead of this government, Obama, is a statist socialist. Reading period novels of the WW II era, seems like I'm reading modern day stories--the people of France under Nazi occupation had these types of ridiculous regulations to follow. Gee, I thought we shed lots of blood to overcome such beauracracy and utter contempt for freedom. Write and call your representatives! Time for some more tea parties!
That's ACORN that would the brown shirts. This shouldn't be a surprise, even though it is shockingly ridiculous, because the figurehead of this government, Obama, is a statist socialist. Reading period novels of the WW II era, seems like I'm reading modern day stories--the people of France under Nazi occupation had these types of ridiculous regulations to follow. Gee, I thought we shed lots of blood to overcome such beauracracy and utter contempt for freedom. Write and call your representatives! Time for some more tea parties!
As an A&P for a major airline in PHL I have seen first hand the actions of TSA. After 911 we had trouble taking tools on the aircraft to repair them during thru flights. If we questioned them or had any run in with TSA we lived with the revocation of our certificate, still do . They have the power over the FAA to take your certificate for any reason they want to come up with. Everyone should be afraid of run ins with them, they are a branch of our goverment with way to much power and no oversight for any of the actions they take. I use to love going to general aviation airports with my children to look at airplanes,not anymore..I think the TSA will kill general aviation as we know it.
As a Canadian pilot who goes to Oshkosh and Sun and Fun regularly I am now wondering if it worth the effort to visit the USA. Many dollars are spent by myself and passengers while in the states. A few years ago I spent a month flying to Oshkosh, Sturges(bikes) and Reno(Hot August Nights) plus many other flights to USA. Between decals, ePas(with which I am now registered) cross border hassles and airport overraction to general aviation(private) pilots security maybe the USA is not interested in aviation tourism!
If TSA is serious about ID badges, then they should institute a national system. As a holder of a Commercial Drivers License with HAZMAT endorsement, I had to shell out $97 to a TSA contractor to have my finger prints taken. Now I am good to go until the next idiotic requirement comes along. The TSA would not accept fingerprints from the local Police Dept nor the State Police, guess these guys must be possible terrorists because they carry guns. In the State of CT I believe there was only 1 location to get the approved fingerprints. Now I can haul thousands of gallons of dimethylbadstuff around the country. But heavens forbid that I a walk across the ramp a mile away from the TSA sterile area.
Well my first post was deleted by someone(!) because I mentioned POTUSA I guess, so this time I will self-censor myself and delete just first paragraph.
[First paragraph deleted]
Now seriously, it is past due for us to contact ALL the representatives, local, state and federal. This kind of Soviet Union style persecution must stop at once. The only incentives the TSA employees have is to grow their agency, so they amassing more power to do it.
Just an idea, what if all general aviation pilots go on strike. That means no more bizjet flights for all the government jetsetters. Let's ground them all until they come to senses and fire TSA employees who are responsible for this gestapo-like tactics.
Keep in mind it is NOT TSA per se, it is TSA public servants (= employees paid by us, the taxpayers) who are responsible.
I was at the Trade Center as an EMT, I know what can happen but this will not stop it. This will only stop good people from flying. I’m working on getting my private license and my DE is at a commercial airport. This will shut him down, and prevent a lot of people from getting their license. We need to fight this; we need to support AOPA with letters to our elected officials. Remind them we put them in office we can vote them out.
ECS
Don't write (takes too long), don't email(lost in the shuffle). Call LD, their office on the phone or send a fax. 2 Senators, 1 Representative. "I am _____, live at _____, I am a constituent. TSA needs to back off immediately and no User fees (tolls) to fly. Both are destroying General Aviation and thousands of jobs and businesses it takes with it". Expound some more.
DO IT. Call AND send Fax.
Spread the word.
I don't think the actions of the TSA are accidental. The vagueness of their operation is designed to foster confusion, and capricious fines and penalties. This will lead to intimidation and ultimately the end of GA. I believe one goal of this administration is to break the backs of freedom loving people and get us to march in lockstep - or else!
This was all hatched in the previous administration. You know it's true. Now is the time to put a stop to it while we still can. What's with installing a former union godfather into the FAA as Administrator? Maybe Obama IS naive. How do you stop that too? I have an ALPA number, thankfully retired, and am glad they can no longer extort monthly dues for their protection racket.
My dear American cousins, I live in dread of what I see America becoming. The Canadian press recently took someone in the American administration to task for claiming that Mr. Obama was the leader of the free world claiming that there were many other freedom loving countries with a claim to that monniker. I vehemently disagree. America is the leader of the free world, but that claim is being put in jeopardy by those who would march the USA towards being a police state in the name of security. Americans shoot more people accidentally in a year than died in 9/11. If perspective counts for anything, why go overboard on counter-terror security and do nothing about regulating handguns? America's foundational philosophies are as valid today as they were when your wonderful nation was founded, you only have to look as far as your constitution, national anthem and New Hampshire's license plate. Live Free or Die.
A friend and proud Canadian
As former head-of-state pilot for a forign country, I used, then, Universal WX for flight planning and overflight clearances. They issued an ID card with a RED background that was honored most anywhere in the world, you guessed it, except USA. Most countries give first priority to head of state aircraft.
As this head of state deplaned on his first state visit to the USA and was being greeted by the governor of New Jersey, Tetorboro, customs came on board and told me to go down and tell whomever that was he can't get off this airpalne until I tell him he can. I suggested she do that service. Soon a DC-9 sent from Washington by our US president parked next to my Grumman Gulfstream II picked up this foreign president and his entourage and flew off to Washington Nationalfor a state visit.
In my flight travels to 75 foreign countries, customs, security, etc have mostly good except th worst when entering or leaving the US. Little people with a lot of authority. Traffic control has always been efficient.
It is unfortunate that heads of the FAA, customs, Homeland Security are political appointtees. If Obama is going to overhaul the US govenment as claimed he could start at the aforementioned.
I live in Canada, very close to the Canada/US border. Watertown NY is only 10 minutes by air from my home. In the past we have enjoyed many great flights in and out of the US. American and Canadian flying clubs on both sides of the border have participated in each others flyins and many long standing friendships have been formed. I have read the new "safety" rules to be imposed and sad to say I will not be flying into the US. My American friends tell me they will not be coming this way either. They are furious that their gov't requires an "exit permit" to fly out of the country. They are reminded of the old war pictures of Nazi Germany with some villian in a leather trench coat going through a crowd saying "papers please" and woe to those without "papers". I implore everyone to fight this madness while you can. What is next, exit permits to visit another state? Too many Canadian, American and soldiers of Allied nations died for freedom, don't let their sacrifice be in vain.
AS someone who has worked in the intelligence community, I can truthfully say. you put these paranoid schizophrenic in charge of something and they can think of a million things,.that can cause harm even a pencil. I can here there answer now to this statement. We have these nuts all over in our military now.
Get rid of the TSA, HSA, and most of the laws in this country. It's becoming a socialist government. The TSA today stole my food (they are basically legal thieves) after I spent longer getting through line and suffering their humiliation (take your clothes off here) than I did walking from the terminal door's to the gate. PHX Terminal 4.
Get rid of them and let me defend the flight from hijacker's. Give me a discount of the "security" fee's they charge if I'm packing. (Would you hijack an airplane, knowing there might be weapon's aboard but you didn't know where they were or the skill of their owner's? NEITHER WOULD A TERRORIST)
TERRORISTS ARE COWARD'S!!! They don't like armed passengers. Come to think of it, neither does our government.
Someone once said "An armed society is a polite society"
Everyone...and I mean evryone write or call your congessman and both senators immediately and demand they take action on this matter. These rules are nothing short of "taxation without representation" as these beaurocrats are NOT elected officials.
