The Aircraft Electronics Association has submitted comments to the United States Transportation Safety Administration on the Large Aircraft Security Program Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
In its comments, the AEA stated, The proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) rule would have a detrimental effect on general aviation (GA) while conferring no safety or security benefit to GA. The proposed rule would affect all aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of over 12,500 pounds, and would require the operators of these aircraft to have a TSA approved security program. Specifically, the NPRM states that such a security program would require the watch list matching of GA passengers, screening for unauthorized persons and weapons onboard the aircraft, and finger-print based criminal history checks on flight crew. Currently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) only requires security programs for, with some exceptions, commercial operators and air carriers.
It is AEA’s position that the proposed rule fails to recognize the inherent difference between GA and commercial aviation, and the requirements it contains put an overly onerous burden on GA while conferring no stated or actual national security benefit. It is AEA’s hope that these comments can help the TSA to craft a rule that supports aviation security while also allowing the continued success of the GA industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, by email at ricp@aea.net or by phone at 202-589-1144.