Press Release
AAAE Working Group Provides Feedback On TSA's Large GA Aircraft Security Program Proposal
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2009
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Robert Olislagers, A.A.E., Centennial Airport executive director and chair of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) General Aviation Security Working Group, spoke yesterday during a public forum convened by the Transportation Security Administration to discuss its Large Aircraft Security Program Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (LASP NPRM). Olislagers, speaking on behalf of more than 70 airport executives that make up the group, expressed a desire to work with TSA to improve general aviation security by applying practical solutions that strengthen existing programs.
“General Aviation is not opposed to working with the TSA in closing any potential gaps in security,” Olislagers stated. “We do not question that threats exist, but they must be weighed against mitigations already in place.”
TSA released the LASP NPRM on October 30, 2008. The LASP would require all U.S. operators of aircraft exceeding 12,500 pounds maximum take-off weight to implement security programs that would be subject to compliance audits by TSA. Airports servicing these large GA aircraft would be required to implement a partial Airport Security Program (ASP), if they do not already have one in place, as well as identify law enforcement officer (LEO) support and designate airport security coordinators (ASCs).
Responding to airport concerns over the regulation and its potential impact on more than 300 airports, AAAE formed the GA Security Working Group, which includes executives from more than 70 airports. The group has met multiple times in recent weeks and is developing detailed comments on the proposal. The group is helping individual airports develop comments that reflect their unique situations regarding the cost and other impacts that the proposal would have. Working group members also are working with other industry associations, including those representing pilots and business aviation interests, in an effort to ensure a collaborative, comprehensive response to the NPRM. The deadline for submitting comments on the draft rule to TSA is February 27, 2009.
As part of its analysis of the LASP NPRM, AAAE and the working group conducted a survey of GA airports. Olislagers highlighted several of the survey results in his comments, particularly when discussing the significant cost impact the NPRM will have on airport operators.
Among the survey findings:
- More than 90 percent of respondents reported that they would be charged by their local law enforcement agency for any costs associated with the new regulations, which TSA completely omitted from their own fiscal impact analysis;
- 88 percent of FAA-designated reliever airports would consider passing on the cost of the LASP to aircraft operators;
- 60 percent of FAA-designated reliever airports estimate the cost of the LASP above $40,000 per year, and several responded that the cost would be well over $200,000 per year; and
- 71 percent of FAA-designated reliever airports do not think the NPRM will improve security.
The GA Working Group’s efforts are part of a broad industry effort to deliver constructive feedback on the rule to TSA. The agency has held several public forums to solicit feedback on the LASP, including the one in Houston, where Olislagers spoke.
Participation in the AAAE GA Working Group is open to any interested airport executive. For more information, contact AAAE’s Steven Mandurano at steven.mandurano@aaae.org or (703) 824 0504.
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ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world’s largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C. and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.
CONTACT:
Sean Broderick
American Association of Airport Executives
sean.broderick@aaae.org
Office: (703) 824-0500, Ext. 126
Mobile: (571) 283-7715
