Says GA Aircraft Pose Some Risk To Federal Buildings

We all knew there was no way this was not going to happen. The Texas Congressman who represents the district where a PA-28 was deliberately flown into a building containing IRS offices wants a Congressional hearing to look into security for federal facilities.

Michael McCaul (R-TX) said Friday through a spokesman that an official inquiry by the Homeland Security Committee was needed to determine how to better protect federal buildings, looking at least in part towards GA aircraft.

The newspaper The Hill reports that McCaul spokesman Mike Rosen said the focus on the inquiry should be on federal buildings, and while it was important to consider the "threat" posed by private planes, the hearing should be about the buildings. "We have absolutely no intention to regulate general aviation as a result of this incident,” Rosen said.

A Democratic aide told The Hill that the panel normally looks at federal building safety every year, but does not usually look at specific threats from aircraft. He said there was a hearing about GA aircraft last July, and Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) will wait until a formal request for a hearing is made.

FMI: http://homeland.house.gov