House Subcommittee Report Language Signals Congressional
Support For Voluntary General Aviation Security Program
NBAA executives Friday said welcomed language included in a
Congressional spending bill encouraging the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) to continue moving forward on development of
the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate
(TSAAC), a voluntary general aviation security program.
The report language on TSAAC approved by the House Homeland
Security Appropriations Subcommittee was part of the homeland
security funding bill for fiscal year 2006. The text spoke
favorably about the TSAAC program, encouraged TSA to move forward
with its development, and instructed the Agency to report back to
Congress in January 2006 on plans to enhance or implement
TSAAC.
"NBAA very much appreciates the signal of support for the TSAAC
program sent by Congress," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
"The program strikes the right balance between freedom of mobility
and homeland security, and we look forward to continuing our work
with leaders in Congress and federal security officials to move the
program forward."
In the years since the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, NBAA has worked with federal
security officials to develop and test TSAAC, a voluntary pilot
program with security procedures including corporate background
checks on flight crew and ground crew personnel,
screening/inspection of passengers and baggage, integration of
pre-flight, in-flight, and ground-security programs, and
utilization of threat intelligence. TSAAC is being tested with 24
business aviation operators at three New York-area general aviation
airports.
In December of last year, TSA endorsed the TSAAC initiative, and
committed to work with NBAA to further enhance and expand
participation in the program. Since that time, NBAA has continued
to promote the TSAAC program with Congress and the
Administration.
"We especially appreciate the efforts of House Homeland Security
Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers," Bolen continued.
"The legislative action taken by Congress is a good step forward in
making TSAAC a reality for the business aviation community, and
further enhancing national aviation security. We hope that the
message of support for TSAAC sent by Congress will provide a
renewed incentive for federal security officials to move ahead with
the expansion and implementation of TSAAC."