TSA's Draconian Actions Are Creating Intense Dissatisfaction With Agency

It's no secret that TSA seems to have developed a 'regulate first and evaluate effects later' approach to dealing with GA. And the industry is about fed up with it all.. Six GA advocacy groups are using the occasion of reauthorization for the Transportation Security Administration to call for an end to the agency's habit of imposing costly burdens on general aviation with no input from stakeholders.

EAA, NBAA, GAMA, NATA, AOPA, and the Airports Council International have sent a joint letter supporting an amendment proposed by Florida Congressman John Mica to HR 2200 which would limit TSA's ability to impose so-called "emergency" security directives without complying with The US Administrative Procedures Act.

Noting TSA’s airport security directive, which imposes costly security requirements on general aviation pilots and the commercial airports at which they might land, the groups tell Mica, quote...

"We have seen the TSA repeatedly use SDs to vastly expand existing requirements without consideration of the implementation challenges, operational impacts and economic burdens such mandates impose on the aviation industry. Your amendment properly balances risk mitigation and necessary tactical response with potential industry impacts and appropriate public review."

For the time being, however, the requirement for background checks, badges and security escorts for GA is still scheduled to go into effect in a week... God help us all.

FMI: www.tsa.gov, www.eaa.org, www.nbaa.org, www.nata.aero, www.aci-na.org