NBAA Memo Updates LASP Issues

In recent weeks, according to the NBAA, lawmakers in and outside Washington have continued to voice concerns with federal security officials about the TSA's proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP).

"I am concerned that the proposed rule as written could have a minimal impact on aviation security, prove overly burdensome to general aviation and result in real economic harm by hampering business operations and commerce," wrote Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano.

"While obviously security is, and must remain, TSA's top priority, I believe that TSA must also attempt to work with those who will be impacted by new security measures to ensure that new measures do not impose unnecessary burdens," wrote Representative Harry Mitchell (D-5-AZ) in a letter of his own to DHS. The City of Hot Springs, AR, passed a resolution that marked their concerns on LASP because general aviation is a "vital engine of growth in the City of Hot Springs economy."

As ANN readers may recall, the TSA's NPRM seeks to amend the Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) and Private Charter Standard Security Program (PCSSP) and apply new security requirements to all aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. In addition, TSA proposes airports serving large aircraft to adopt mandatory security requirements.

Among many of the requirements contained within the proposal, the major provisions for aircraft operators include criminal history record checks (CHRC) and security threat assessments (STA) for flight crew, checking passenger names against the TSA’s “No-Fly” and “Selectee” lists, development of a security program, and biennial auditing of the security program.

Additionally, the proposal would require approximately 320 airports designated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as “reliever” airports and airports that regularly serve scheduled or public charter operations in large aircraft to adopt a “partial” airport security program that would include specific training, record retention, personnel and notification requirements.

FMI: www.nbaa.org/lasp, www.nbaa.org/ops/security/programs/lasp/analysis.php