Last month in this space, I wrote about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its proposed rule to expand airline-style security measures to private (i.e., Part 91) operations of aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. The new proposal was formally released October 30, 2008. The proposed rule would require operators to assign a security director to oversee 288
Mission Creep
Last month in this space, I wrote about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its proposed rule to expand airline-style security measures to private (i.e., Part 91) operations of aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. The new proposal was formally released October 30, 2008. The proposed rule would require operators to assign a security director to oversee flight operations, obtain TSA approval for a security program addressing every operation of the aircraft, submit fingerprints of all flight-crew members and seek government approval of each passenger for each flight. A copy of the full, 67-page proposal is available in PDF format at this address: tinyurl.com/5nxn55. General aviations alphabet soup is expressing strong opposition to the proposal. Both AOPA and NBAA formally requested a comment-period extension, to 120 days, which the TSA granted. The new deadline is February 27, 2009.
Key Takeaways:
- The TSA proposed expanding airline-style security to private aircraft over 12,500 pounds, requiring measures like security directors, program approval, crew fingerprints, and passenger clearance.
- General aviation organizations are strongly opposing the proposal, arguing it's "mission creep" without an identified security threat and raises concerns about civil liberties and government authority.
- The proposed rule could impact any airport capable of handling large aircraft, prompting the author to urge readers to submit comments against it before the February 27, 2009 deadline.
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