NBAA Calls for Aviation Rulemaking Committee to Address
Concerns of Business Aviation
In comments made to TSA officials today, National Business
Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen articulated
industry concerns about the agency's proposed Large Aircraft
Security Program (LASP) and offered a process for improving the
final rule on the proposal.
At a public hearing held in a packed room at Westchester County
Airport, Bolen told TSA representatives their plan fails to
recognize the unique needs and challenges of business aviation
operations and that left unchanged, the plan would have "unintended
and destructive consequences that threaten the well-being of
businesses across the U.S. that rely on their airplanes for
survival."
Bolen reminded the TSA of the ongoing commitment to security
that the business aviation community has demonstrated. "In the
years following the 9/11 attacks," Bolen said, "The industry has
called for security enhancements, including an Airport Watch
program, monitored aircraft transactions, and background checks and
tamper-proof licenses for pilots. Clearly, when it comes to
effective security enhancements, we have led, not followed the
government."
According to Bolen, the security approach outlined in the agency's
LASP proposal - which is in many ways an overlay of airline
security measures onto general aviation - would be unduly
burdensome without providing a clear security benefit. Bolen noted
four major concerns to illustrate his point:
- As the title for the proposal states, the TSA infers that its
plan applies to large aircraft, when in fact, it would apply to
aircraft as small as 12,500 lbs. "The entire cabin of a
12,500-pound airplane - from windshield to back bulkhead - could
comfortably fit sideways into the planes used in the 9/11 attacks,"
Bolen said. "Make no mistake about it: The 'large aircraft'
security program will apply to some very small aircraft, and the
weight threshold must be substantially changed."
- The proposal contains a list of more than 80 "prohibited
items," some of which may be routinely carried aboard business
aircraft because they are central to NBAA Members' business needs.
"Does it really make sense for a company sending a team of
employees to fix a problem with one of their assembly lines not to
be able to access their tools in flight?"
Bolen asked. "Does it really make sense for a sporting goods
manufacturer not to be able to access their products in flight, as
they try to prepare for a sales presentation?"
-
The TSA's proposal
would require owners of some airplanes to develop procedures to
carry a federal air marshal when told to do so by the TSA.
"It's hard to understand why our Members would ever need a law
enforcement officer aboard their plane, because the company owns
the plane and knows everyone aboard," Bolen reminded agency
officials.
"Knowing everything there is to know about who your passenger is
changes everything, and the proposal doesn't seem to recognize that
fact."
- The proposal would establish a broad requirement that NBAA
Members pay for external, third-party audits. "The specifics of the
audits are not well-articulated," Bolen said. "But one thing we do
know is that outsourcing security is contrary to our national
philosophy for use of federal screeners, and in the development of
Secure Flight."
"In determining a final rule, we believe it is important that we
get this right," Bolen said. "Overly broad or unduly burdensome
regulations will needlessly destroy jobs and businesses. There is a
better way to approach our shared goal of enhancing security and
facilitating operations.
"We need to create an aviation rulemaking committee, which is a
consistently proven method for addressing controversial proposals
for our industry, because it opens up a real dialogue for creating
effective, yet workable policies. Business aviation is an important
industry, security is an important objective, and we deserve that
kind of dialogue."
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National
Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) is the leading
organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft
to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and
successful. The Association represents more than 8,000 companies
and provides more than 100 products and services to the business
aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting &
Convention, the world's largest civil aviation trade show.