Pistole: "One Size Fits All" Won't Work For Aviation
Security
The top officials of the FAA and TSA reiterated their desire to
work collaboratively with the business aviation community. In
remarks made during Tuesday's Opening General Session, TSA
Administrator John Pistole and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt
pledged to seek industry input on pending regulations and
initiatives.
TSA Administrator John Pistole
Pistole, a counterterrorism expert and 26-year veteran of the
FBI who assumed the top post at the TSA this past July, declared to
NBAA Attendees, "I want to ensure there is a partnership [between
TSA and business aviation]."
Pistole said he had hoped to unveil details of TSA's revamped
Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposed rule during the
Convention, but admitted, "we are not quite there yet." However, he
said that TSA officials "took to heart" the issues that were raised
in the 7,000 comments the agency received in response to the
original LASP proposal, and he said he understands the need to
balance security requirements with the need for business aviation
operations to remain mobile, flexible and efficient.
After witnessing the diversity of general aviation (GA) on
display at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture held
in Oshkosh, WI this past summer, Pistole concluded, "Obviously, a
one-size-fits-all [aviation security protocol] doesn't make sense,"
adding that the TSA plans to pursue a "tailored" solution for
general aviation.
One of Pistole's priorities is to engage external stakeholders,
and he wants to hear from the industry. "If you have suggestions,
let us know."
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt
Randy Babbitt, the former air carrier pilot and Air Line Pilot
Association executive who has headed the FAA since June 2009,
echoed Pistole's sentiments about the importance of collaboration
between regulators and industry.
"I can't stress enough the need for partnership" in moving
forward with the introduction of new technologies into the aviation
system, said Babbitt, as he explained the benefits of the Next
Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) to NBAA
Attendees.
Babbitt said NextGen technologies promise to offer "incredibly
enhanced situational awareness," with the potential to eliminate
runway incursions. He noted that the precision of new systems will
help de-conflict airline airports and nearby business aviation
airfields through the use of Required Navigation Performance (RNP).
Combined, these new technologies will increase system-wide access
and capacity while reducing delays.
The FAA administrator reported that the agency has now published
2,000 WAAS LPV departure and arrival procedures. These GPS-based
navaids give some airports an instrument landing capability that
they did not previously have, which is good for business airplanes
that want to use these airfields.
Babbitt congratulated business aviation on its exemplary safety
record, but told operators they must remain vigilant. He noted that
the recently issued rule regarding commercial pilot flight and duty
times was formulated to take into account the effects of cumulative
fatigue and circadian rhythms on pilot performance, and he asked
business aviation to remember that when establishing in-house
limits, "the science of fatigue applies to everyone."