Thu, Jan 18, 2007
Lawmakers Ask TSA To Step Up Inspections Of Private Planes
In what may prove an
ominous precursor for general aviation (GA), Senator Jay
Rockefeller told TSA chief Kip Hawley in front of a congressional
committee small private planes should undergo the same security
checks as commercial airliners.
"We're not taking the lessons of 9/11 seriously," Rockefeller
said. "There is nothing written... that small planes can't do
catastrophic damage."
Using the example of October's tragic accident in which New York
Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor Tyler Stanger
died after flying an SR20 into a Manhattan hi-rise, Rockefeller
warned Hawley small airplanes can cause significant damage. The
senator suggested the TSA beef up its staff and devote more
resources to GA.
According to Govexec.com, Hawley said the TSA is "looking at
steps" as regards GA, and that "a more robust plan" is on the
way.
Considering the relatively light damage caused by Lidle's Cirrus
in October compared to the loss of both towers of the World Trade
Center, its hard to see exactly how Rockefeller can call it
"catastrophic."
AOPA has worked closely with the FAA, the Department of Homeland
Security and other law enforcement agencies in developing its
Airport Watch program, hailed by all involved as a model of
government and public cooperation. The few simple guidelines
suggested by the program provide airport and aircraft owners and
operators specific steps that can drastically improve security at
even the busiest general aviation airports.
Without dramatically altering the way most private aircraft
owners operate their aircraft from the thousands of rural and
privately-owned airports across the country, it would be impossible
for GA flights to receive security checks similar to commercial
airliners as Rockefeller suggests.
So what exactly does TSA have in mind to "improve" GA
security?
ANN will post more information on this developing story as it
becomes available.
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