Homeland Security Still Says 'Steady Vigilance Must Be Maintained'

A report dated May 27th by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's office concludes what most of us have said for some time. That "general aviation presents only limited and mostly hypothetical threats to security. We also determined that the steps general aviation airport owners and managers have taken to enhance security are positive and effective."

The report was requested by Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) after a report by a Houston television station questioned security at several area airports. Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, who chairs the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, House Committee on Homeland Security, requestion DHS study those airports, and others around the country in major metropolitan areas. The television reporters identified what they described as “security breaches” at all three airports. Specifically, the reporters were able to approach an airfield or aircraft without identifying themselves. At one airfield, the reporter noted that a fence enclosed only part of the airfield.

According to the report "In each instance, the allegation of weak security was based on reporters gaining access to airfields or aircraft. However, the reporters were unaware of some passive security and monitoring measures. For example, the airports had instituted security procedures, including 24-hour video surveillance, locking or disabling grounded planes, and controlling fuel access, which the television reporters did not test."

The IG's office also looked at airports in the Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC areas. In each case no serious security risks were found at airport primarily serving general aviation in those regions.

Still, DHS is not going so far as to make recommendations to TSA on GA airport security. While "The current status of GA operations does not present a serious homeland security vulnerability requiring TSA to increase regulatory oversight of the industry."

According to OI, there is no specific, credible information of ongoing plots to use GA in an attack in the near future. Other government agencies, including GAO and the Congressional Research Service, have examined catastrophic scenarios and have concluded that the GA industry does not represent a serious vulnerability," according to the report, "we conclude that TSA’s response to threats in the GA sector has been appropriate, and we are making no recommendations for additional measures in this review. Nonetheless, TSA and the GA industry must continue to be vigilant."

FMI: www.dhs.gov