Wed, Feb 16, 2005
AOPA Still Waiting To Learn His Position On General
Aviation
The United States Senate today unanimously confirmed the
nomination of Judge Michael Chertoff to be Secretary of Homeland
Security, a position with tremendous influence over how general
aviation pilots can operate.
Even following Judge Chertoff’s confirmation hearings
before Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is still trying to confirm
his position on general aviation as it relates to national
security. Nothing he has said either before his nomination or since
has given a clear indication of whether or not he considers GA a
threat.
"Now that the full Senate has confirmed Judge Chertoff’s
nomination, AOPA plans to ask for a meeting as soon as possible to
make sure he understands the important role GA plays in American
day-to-day life," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Judge Chertoff
has a reputation as a quick study, so even if he does not know much
about GA, we hope that he’ll see why it’s so important
to find common-sense ways to address national security concerns
without causing undue burdens on GA pilots."
One positive sign during his
confirmation was that Chertoff told the Senate panel that he
thought the time has come for the Department of Homeland Security
to begin focusing on other modes of transportation the way it has
focused on aviation for the past three-and-a-half years.
"Aviation – and general aviation in particular – has
borne the brunt of government security-related restrictions," said
Boyer, "while other types of transportation with far greater
potential as terrorist weapons have received relatively little
scrutiny.
"It’s too soon to know if Judge Chertoff’s testimony
means that general aviation will no longer be unfairly singled
out," Boyer continued. "We hope that, like his predecessor, Tom
Ridge, Michael Chertoff will carefully weigh the potential negative
impact of national security measures."
The more-than-404,000 members of AOPA make up the world’s
largest civil aviation organization. AOPA is committed to striking
a common-sense balance that fulfills national security needs while
protecting aircraft owners and pilots from overly burdensome
regulations.
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