Agency Joins Federal Pavilion Exhibitors at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Prior to the International G-8 Summit scheduled for June 8-10 at Sea Island (GA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will assign teams of Aviation Security Inspectors (ASI) to general aviation airports located within the temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas. But, according to Steven Calabro of the TSA GA Directorate, they won’t necessarily be there in a regulatory enforcement mode.

Calling it part of the TSA’s new GA outreach program, Calabro told airport operators and aviation organizations including EAA during a Wednesday teleconference that the mission is to provide information awareness, not regulatory enforcement during the summit.

"We’ll still provide coverage and some working ground knowledge of what’s going on around the airports during this event," Calabro said. "We’re going to provide our inspectors and arm them with some knowledge and information. Sure, they’ll be on hand to work with airport assets in the event anything like a TFR violation or suspicious activity on the ground takes place. We’re hoping to become familiar with the airport, its operations and its surroundings."

TSA has identified about 28 private and public airports within the TFRs and hopes to make some introductions and establish points of contact with airport management, fixed-base operators, and airport businesses. "More importantly, to be liaisons on issues that arise with aircraft operations and NOTAMs where they have the ability to get that information back to us at a command center, 24 hours a day during this event," he said.

Each shift of ASIs will keep track of information like aircraft on the ground, report any suspicious activity, and support individual airport assets. "It’s more of an outreach kind of thing and a training aid for ASIs to become educated on some general aviation issues," Calabro added.

The TSA developed its outreach program to help create a better understanding of general aviation issues and to preserve this very important aspect of our nation’s economy. Calabro again stressed, "The outreach program and related visits to airports is designed to promote airport, aircraft, and airmen security awareness and is not part of a regulatory enforcement policy."

TSA Exhibiting at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

To further enhance the reach of the new program, TSA has joined the International Federal Partnership (formerly Can-Am Partnership) as an exhibitor in the Federal Pavilion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004. Like other agencies, TSA recognizes that no other venue provides the direct contact to the aviation public like AirVenture. It’s also the first GA event at which TSA has formally exhibited. The agency will staff their booth with GA ASIs throughout the week.

"We encourage all AirVenture 2004 visitors to stop by the Federal Pavilion to learn about our new outreach program and to pick up the associated handouts," said Calabro, who will manage the booth.

(Of course, you'll be thoroughly searched, X-rayed and cavity-searched. Okay, just kidding -- couldn't resist. ed.)

FMI: www.eaa.org