GAMA Chairman Questions TSA's Use Of Security Directives For Rulemaking

Testifying Wednesday before the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, Chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the President and CEO of Jeppesen, Mark Van Tine, said that if TSA, industry, and Congress work together on general aviation security issues, an effective security system can be put in place that does not inhibit the freedom people enjoy today to use general aviation aircraft.
 
In his remarks, Van Tine emphasized that since September 11, 2001, the general aviation community has worked diligently to increase security and awareness of threats to the aviation system. This effort has led to the development and implementation of over a dozen mandatory and voluntary security programs.
  
He also specifically addressed two major recent security issues affecting general aviation.  The first was the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposed in October 2008.  "The general aviation community does not oppose enhancing security," said Van Tine.  "However, we believe that the notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) was unnecessarily burdensome and did not reflect an adequate understanding of general aviation operations." 
 
He commended the TSA for its commitment to reworking the initial NPRM and considering concerns and suggestions from stakeholders which will lead to a more practical and effective approach to general aviation security.
 
Van Tine also spoke about the TSA's use of security directives to circumvent the normal rulemaking process.  "We have seen the TSA repeatedly use security directives to vastly expand existing security requirements without consideration of the implementation challenges, operational impacts and economic burdens these mandates impose on the aviation industry.  GAMA strongly supported an amendment offered by Congressman Mica (R-FL) to the TSA Authorization Act, which would require the agency to initiate a rulemaking process for security directives six months after implementation unless there is an emergency situation.  We supported this amendment because it struck the right balance between national security and due process," said Van Tine.

FMI: www.gama.org