Sat, Oct 18, 2003
We Don't Wanna Say We TOLD You So, But...
Admiral James Loy, head
of the Transportation Security Administration, Thursday told the
House Aviation subcommittee "we're getting to the point" when the
government will need to rethink many of the restrictions placed on
aviation since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Responding to a question from Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC), a
longtime AOPA member and strong voice for GA in Congress, Loy said
in the highly emotional period right after the attacks, it was
suggested by some security officials that the threat posed by
general aviation was much greater than it actually is. He said his
agency is working closely with the GA industry.
"We've been vindicated," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
"Admiral Loy has reinforced what we've said all along; general
aviation is not the threat."
Hayes told Loy that as a pilot and member of Congress, his
concerns were both personal and professional. He asked Loy about
the Baltimore-Washington Air Defense Identification Zone and
whether there were plans for changes beyond those already approved
to begin November 1. Loy said no, there are no further
modifications pending and no plans to lift the ADIZ. But he did
stress his efforts to remove what he referred to as "stupid rules,"
such as no beverages through security checkpoints and the old
check-in questions. He also indicated it might be time to
reconsider the 30-minute rule for flights to or from Reagan
National Airport (DCA) — requiring airline passengers to
remain in their seats for 30 minutes after departure from or before
arrival at Reagan National.
The hearing had dealt primarily with safety at air carrier
airports until Hayes and Washington (DC) Congressional Delegate
Eleanor Holmes Norton began peppering him with questions about
GA.
Norton pressed especially hard about the National Capital
Airspace Working Group and efforts to reopen DCA to general
aviation. She challenged Administrator Loy to set deadlines for the
working group so that the restrictions would no longer last
indefinitely.
"As we move forward from here, it's important that Congress and
the public remember all of the improvements the federal government
has made to GA security," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice
president of Government and Technical Affairs. "They've taken six
very specific regulatory and policy actions to address security
concerns about pilots, pilot certificates, and flight training. And
at the same time, the GA industry on its own initiative has
instituted programs such as AOPA's Airport Watch to further enhance
security."
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