Sun, Jul 13, 2003
Sen. Fritz Hollings Endorses Program
A senior US senator has
offered praise and government funds for AOPA's Airport Watch
program -- including its toll-free security hotline.
Thursday, during a meeting of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC) successfully offered an
amendment directing the Department of Homeland Security to continue
funding the 1-866-GA-SECURE hotline, where callers
can report suspicious activities at an airport.
Hollings, a hawk on security issues and a champion of general
aviation, declared afterwards, "Airport Watch is a common-sense and
effective approach to securing our nation's general aviation
airports. AOPA and TSA have got it right on this
one."
Airport Watch is modeled on the popular neighborhood watch
program and asks general aviation pilots and others on GA airports
to watch for and report any possible criminal or terrorist
activity.
AOPA partnered with the Transportation Security
Administration (now part of the Homeland Security Department) to
create Airport Watch. AOPA created the program and funded program
materials such as brochures, airport signs, and training
videos.
TSA provided the toll-free hotline and helped distribute some of
the program materials.
Sen. Hollings is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee and is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Senate committee that
oversees the FAA. The bill will now be sent to the Senate floor for
full consideration by that chamber.
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