Admiral David M. Stone,
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Transportation Security
Administration (TSA), gave attendees of the National Air
Transportation Association’s (NATA) Annual Convention a
preview of what the agency is planning for the future of aviation
security.
Stone addressed many topics of interest to the general aviation
community during the convention’s general session at the
Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, including the need to find
a balance between protecting liberties and providing security.
“You can have the most secure airport in the world, but if no
one uses it then it really doesn’t matter,” Stone told
attendees. “We are very serious about balancing customer
service with providing security for the flying public.”
Stone discussed the implementation of metrics to measure
passenger satisfaction and security screening so this balance can
be achieved.
Another topic of interest to the general aviation industry was
the TSA’s perusal of Transit Worker Identification Cards
(TWIC) so crews serving multiple airports can be screened one time
and be cleared to work at several facilities.
Additionally, Stone
addressed the issue of general aviation access to Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport (DCA). “I think we are smart
enough to come up with a plan that makes sense from a security
standpoint while also allowing access,” he said.
Stone said the agency was striving to avoid basing its
decision-making on what works in Washington and, instead, operate
on the premise that “the best homeland security is hometown
security.”
Stone also discussed the need for true risk-based assessment on
the assignment of Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) at general
aviation airports rather than a blanket approach.
“We’ll just pledge that you will have a voice that will
be heard from a security perspective on issues that you expect us
to help,” Stone said. “As you go through your process
and come to the table as the leader in aviation security, we would
like your support to make sure that TFRs are not put in place as a
knee jerk reaction and in an unsure manner. We are working very
hard to ensure that we are in sync with our stakeholders to make
sure that the establishment of TFRs is done thoughtfully, and we
are engaged in that process every day.
Responding to Assistant Secretary Stone’s remarks, NATA
President James K. Coyne said, “I am pleased that not only do
we have a tremendous working relationship with Admiral Stone and
the TSA, but we also have developed a relationship of mutual trust
and understanding between our organizations that will hopefully
result in a safer air transportation system that is not maintained
at the expense of those in the aviation business.
“All at the TSA have continually demonstrated a
willingness to hear from us, take our concerns seriously, and act
upon those concerns. We appreciate that strong relationship,”
Coyne concluded.