Says Current 'LASP' Proposal Could Be Ruinous To
Already-Strapped GA
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO
Ed Bolen reiterated Friday the potentially ruinous effect the group
asserts the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's)
proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) could have, not
only on small and mid-size businesses that rely on their aircraft
to weather the current unforgiving economic storm, but on the
general aviation (GA) community as a whole.
"The TSA's proposal would overwhelm businesses, airports and
others across the general aviation community, at a time when it is
beset with challenges in the current marketplace," Bolen said.
"Equally unfortunate, the burden the proposal would produce would
not result in a clear security benefit."
Bolen offered his comments to TSA officials at the agency's
fourth hearing on this proposal, which would impose sweeping new
security requirements on all general aviation aircraft weighing
12,500 lbs. or more. Airports serving those aircraft would also be
subject to provisions in the TSA proposal.
"In this brutal economy, everyone in every corner of general
aviation will be impacted if this plan is enacted without
significant changes," Bolen continued, noting by way of
illustration that if companies sell their airplanes because of the
TSA rules, general aviation airports, FBOs, maintenance providers
and others would suffer from the resulting loss of business.
Bolen noted that since the
TSA introduced the LASP last October, the
proposal has been met with a strong response from the industry.
Representatives from across the general aviation community have
crammed into TSA hearings to directly voice their concerns with
agency officials. An outpouring of commentary from NBAA Members has
been submitted to the government's public docket. NBAA Members have
used the Association's Contact Congress resource to send messages
from across the country to elected officials in opposition to the
TSA's plan.
"While security is among the highest priorities for the business
aviation community, we must bring some sanity to this proposal,"
Bolen said, renewing his call for the formation of an Aviation
Rulemaking Committee (ARC).
"An ARC would promote a dialogue between industry stakeholders
and government that would focus on effective approaches to security
enhancements," Bolen said. "It would be a good step toward ensuring
that we get it right in determining a final rule."