Homeland Security Still Says 'Steady Vigilance Must Be
Maintained'
A report dated May
27th by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's
office concludes what most of us have said for some time. That
"general aviation presents only limited and mostly hypothetical
threats to security. We also determined that the steps general
aviation airport owners and managers have taken to enhance security
are positive and effective."
The report was requested by Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee
(D-TX) after a report by a Houston television station questioned
security at several area airports. Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, who
chairs the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and
Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security,
requestion DHS study those airports, and others around the country
in major metropolitan areas. The television reporters identified
what they described as “security breaches” at all three
airports. Specifically, the reporters were able to approach an
airfield or aircraft without identifying themselves. At one
airfield, the reporter noted that a fence enclosed only part of the
airfield.
According to the report "In each instance, the allegation of
weak security was based on reporters gaining access to airfields or
aircraft. However, the reporters were unaware of some passive
security and monitoring measures. For example, the airports had
instituted security procedures, including 24-hour video
surveillance, locking or disabling grounded planes, and controlling
fuel access, which the television reporters did not test."
The IG's office also looked at airports in the Los Angeles,
Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC areas. In each case no
serious security risks were found at airport primarily serving
general aviation in those regions.
Still, DHS is not going so far as to make recommendations to TSA
on GA airport security. While "The current status of GA operations
does not present a serious homeland security vulnerability
requiring TSA to increase regulatory oversight of the
industry."
According to OI, there is no specific, credible information of
ongoing plots to use GA in an attack in the near future. Other
government agencies, including GAO and the Congressional Research
Service, have examined catastrophic scenarios and have concluded
that the GA industry does not represent a serious vulnerability,"
according to the report, "we conclude that TSA’s response to
threats in the GA sector has been appropriate, and we are making no
recommendations for additional measures in this review.
Nonetheless, TSA and the GA industry must continue to be
vigilant."