Gov't Looking At Plan To Identify Operators, Passengers

In what may be perceived as the old "trial balloon" method of seeing how the winds blow, Department of Homeland Security personnel are crisscrossing the country, meeting with trade groups and elected officials to gauge reaction to proposed changes for the operators and passengers of and in millions of small planes and recreational boats, the New York Times reported Saturday.

This comes as Homeland Security acknowledges that the US remains vulnerable to terrorist attacks utilizing these vehicles that use the skies and the waters as their modes of operation.

While the US spends billions on screening passengers and baggage on commercial planes, as well as screening cargo containers, a small private jet could be used for nefarious purposes, including flying in a weapon or terrorists into the country.

The first new set of rules to be implemented, according to the Times, will focus on small planes. Boarding of small private planes without X-ray screening of passengers and baggage would continue to be allowed.

However, for the first time passengers on corporate and fractionally-owned jets will be required to submit themselves to terrorist-watch list checks, particularly if they are coming into the US from overseas.

Those corporate and fractionally-owned jets would join small planes flying as a charter in regard to these rules.

Another proposal would see GA airports having to conduct security assessments and identifying vulnerabilities.

Additionally, planes parked at those airports may be required to have ignition or propeller locks. This would apply to any GAA airport, from those that boast one grass runway to those with air traffic equal to that of some major city airports.

TSA Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley acknowledged that two goals of the new initiative could provoke some protests: ensuring that unauthorized pilots cannot gain access to small planes and that officials know who is at the controls of a plane in flight.

A variety of alternatives are being looked at to meet those goals, including requiring small planes to eventually obtain equipment allowing authorities to know automatically the owner of the plane and the pilot's identity.

"We know which pilots own which aircraft," Hawley (right) said. "The next step would be to know who is on the runway in that aircraft."

For many pilots, however, their small planes pose little threat. And they are counting on their lobbying group, AOPA, to aggressively represent and campaign to preserve their liberties.

Got A Boat?

Owners of small boats will also be subject to plans to diminish the terrorist threat that their own $100 hamburger rides pose, although those plans are apt to be announced after those for small planes.

Even though the Coast Guard plan is still under development, boat owners are already raising their red flags, particularly against plans that include passing a proficiency test and carrying a form of government-issued identification.

"These are ill-conceived solutions that will inconvenience everyone and not result in a substantial increase in security," said Michael G. Sciulla, senior vice president of the Boat Owners Association of the United States, which is already organizing to fight the proposals.

The right to captain a small boat with little interference by the government is fiercely defended by organizations like the boat owners association.

The proposed changes will be issued by the TSA and the Coast Guard and the first set of rules will be announced by the end of the summer.

Bumpy skies and seas seen ahead.

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.tsa.gov, www.uscg.mil