New Security Guidelines Affect 13 State Airports

The obvious cost/benefit questions surrounding the Transportation Security Administration's new "Security Directive 8F" are escaping the confines of aviation circles and finding their way into general media reporting.

In a story headlined, "Rule Seen as Badge of Anger," Mike McPhee of the Denver Post wrote this week a new TSA requirement for each of Colorado's 13 commercial airports to develop its own, incompatible system of security badges and background checks for pilots entering secure areas has left both airport managers and pilots perplexed on how to handle logistics.

Starting June 1, pilots without badges will have to wait for escorts to fueling stations, and even to their own planes.

Denver International Airport's Communications Director, Jeff Green, was the only airport official to downplay the new requirements, citing costs at his airport as a deterrent to most GA pilots. "It won't have much of an impact here. If someone lands here, we can escort them." 

But Rex Tippetts of Grand Junction's Walker Field (GJT) estimates he'll need 2,000 additional security checks and badges. "It's out of control. We have a large maintenance operation here with 400 people. We have a large interagency fire-fighting operation here, with maintenance facilities."

To defray costs of the programs, pilots needing access to the ramp at Grand Junction will be charged $130 each for badges... which will not be honored at any other airport.

The Post says the TSA refused a request to provide a copy of the directive to the paper, and would not even define the "secure areas" covered.

Dennis Heap, director of the Front Range Airport (FTG), summed up the latest TSA solution-looking-for-a-problem. "General aviation is a huge economic generator that polices itself very well," he said. "Why are we doing this? We've just taken a major step in shutting down the nation's general aviation system."

FMI: www.tsa.gov, www.walkerfield.com