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.)