House Subcommittee Report Language Signals Congressional Support For Voluntary General Aviation Security Program

NBAA executives Friday said welcomed language included in a Congressional spending bill encouraging the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to continue moving forward on development of the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC), a voluntary general aviation security program.

The report language on TSAAC approved by the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee was part of the homeland security funding bill for fiscal year 2006. The text spoke favorably about the TSAAC program, encouraged TSA to move forward with its development, and instructed the Agency to report back to Congress in January 2006 on plans to enhance or implement TSAAC.

"NBAA very much appreciates the signal of support for the TSAAC program sent by Congress," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. "The program strikes the right balance between freedom of mobility and homeland security, and we look forward to continuing our work with leaders in Congress and federal security officials to move the program forward."

In the years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, NBAA has worked with federal security officials to develop and test TSAAC, a voluntary pilot program with security procedures including corporate background checks on flight crew and ground crew personnel, screening/inspection of passengers and baggage, integration of pre-flight, in-flight, and ground-security programs, and utilization of threat intelligence. TSAAC is being tested with 24 business aviation operators at three New York-area general aviation airports.

In December of last year, TSA endorsed the TSAAC initiative, and committed to work with NBAA to further enhance and expand participation in the program. Since that time, NBAA has continued to promote the TSAAC program with Congress and the Administration.

"We especially appreciate the efforts of House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers," Bolen continued. "The legislative action taken by Congress is a good step forward in making TSAAC a reality for the business aviation community, and further enhancing national aviation security. We hope that the message of support for TSAAC sent by Congress will provide a renewed incentive for federal security officials to move ahead with the expansion and implementation of TSAAC."

FMI: www.nbaa.org