Sun, Jul 13, 2003
Sen. Fritz Hollings Endorses Program
A senior US senator has
offered praise and government funds for AOPA's Airport Watch
program -- including its toll-free security hotline.
Thursday, during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC) successfully offered an
amendment directing the Department of Homeland Security to continue
funding the 1-866-GA-SECURE hotline, where callers
can report suspicious activities at an airport.
Hollings, a hawk on security issues and a champion of general
aviation, declared afterwards, "Airport Watch is a common-sense and
effective approach to securing our nation's general aviation
airports. AOPA and TSA have got it right on this
one."
Airport Watch is modeled on the popular neighborhood watch
program and asks general aviation pilots and others on GA airports
to watch for and report any possible criminal or terrorist
activity.
AOPA partnered with the Transportation Security
Administration (now part of the Homeland Security Department) to
create Airport Watch. AOPA created the program and funded program
materials such as brochures, airport signs, and training
videos.
TSA provided the toll-free hotline and helped distribute some of
the program materials.
Sen. Hollings is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee and is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate committee that
oversees the FAA. The bill will now be sent to the Senate floor for
full consideration by that chamber.
More News
Known Traffic With respect to ATC clearances, means aircraft whose altitude, position, and intentions are known to ATC.>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA) Established February 25, 1993, the Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA), based in Washington, D.C., is a not-for-profit association,>[...]
Abeam An aircraft is “abeam” a fix, point, or object when that fix, point, or object is approximately 90 degrees to the right or left of the aircraft track. Abeam indic>[...]
Aero Linx: The Air Charter Safety Alliance The group, called the Air Charter Safety Alliance, will raise awareness of illegal charter flights among potential customers, charter bro>[...]
“For months, ALPA has been sounding the alarm on the ongoing efforts by some aircraft manufacturers to remove pilots from the flight deck and replace them with automation. To>[...]