Deadline Now Feburary 27, 2009

Acting on a joint request from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), on Monday the Transportation Security Administration extended the time period for public comment on the agency's Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposal by an additional 60 days.

As a result of the extension, the new deadline for public comment is February 27, 2009.

As ANN reported, on October 30 NBAA and AOPA jointly requested additional time to comment on the LASP, which increases security requirements for all aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds.

"Granting our request will provide much needed time for analysis, community education and feedback," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "This is a very important development and we look forward to effectively using the additional time."

In October, the TSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to amend the Twelve Five Standard Security Program and Private Charter Standard Security Program, and apply new security requirements to all aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds.

The NPRM calls for flight crewmember criminal history records checks, watch list matching of passenger manifests, biennial third party audits of each aircraft operator, and new airport security requirements

"This proposal is an unprecedented move by the TSA into general aviation, and more time will help pilots understand and provide comments," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "The extension shows that the TSA is sensitive to the aviation community’s concerns."

In addition, the TSA proposes that airports serving large aircraft adopt mandatory security requirements.

FMI: www.nbaa.org/lasp, Read The Letter To TSA (.pdf)