Airport Security
The following are the California
State’s Office of Homeland Security Regional
Terrorism Threat Assessment Centers (RTTACs),
as of April 21, 2005.
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AIRPORT SECURITY INFORMATION FOR GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS/AIRPORTS
The Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration continue to monitor reports on potential terrorist threats in the United States. The United States Government has raised the threat level to ORANGE for the financial services sector in New York City, Northern New Jersey and Washington, D.C. We do have new and unusually specific information about where Al Qa’ida would like to attack. Based on a recent interagency review of available information, we remain concerned about Al-Qa’ida’s continued efforts to plan multiple attacks against the United States possibly employing commercial or general aviation aircraft, including helicopters. As a precaution, increased awareness and reporting throughout the general aviation community is desired. At this time, we have no information on dates for potential attacks. TSA will keep you advised should any additional aviation security measures be warranted as the intelligence and threat situation are further analyzed.
TSA wants to remind general aviation aircraft and airport operators to review the security measures contained in the TSA Information Publication, Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports (available at http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1113.xml), and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Airport Watch Program materials (available at www.aopa.org/airportwatch). In addition, general aviation aircraft and airport operators are encouraged to consider the following:
- Secure unattended aircraft to prevent unauthorized use.
- Verify the identification of crew and passengers prior to departure.
- Verify that baggage and cargo are known to the persons on board.
- Where identification systems are in place, encourage employees to wear proper identification and challenge persons not wearing proper identification.
- Direct increased vigilance to unknown pilots and/or clients for aircraft or helicopter rental or charters – as well as unknown service/delivery personnel.
- Be alert/aware of and report persons masquerading as pilots, security personnel, emergency medical technicians, or other personnel using uniforms and/or vehicles as methods to gain access to aviation facilities or aircraft.
- Be alert/aware of and report aircraft with unusual or unauthorized modifications.
- Be alert/aware of and report persons loitering in the vicinity of aircraft or air operations areas – as well as persons loading unusual or unauthorized payload onto aircraft.
- Be alert/aware of and report persons who appear to be under stress or the control of other persons.
- Be alert/aware of and report persons whose identification appears altered or inconsistent.
- Persons should report suspicious activity immediately to local law enforcement and the TSA General Aviation Hotline at 866-GASECUR (866-427-3287).
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Executive Summary The purpose of the Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports Information Publication (IP) is to provide owners, operators, sponsors, and other entities charged with oversight of GA airports a set of federally endorsed security enhancements and a method for determining when and where these enhancements may be appropriate. The document does not contain regulatory language nor is it intended to suggest that any recommendations or guidelines should be considered a mandatory requirement. However, program requirements for operators regulated under the Twelve-Five and Private Charter Rules are not addressed in this document, remain in effect, and may be incorporated into airport security procedures if appropriate. TSA launched this project, working collaboratively with key stakeholders, to develop and disseminate appropriate security guidelines for general aviation airports and heliports. A Working Group was established under the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) to compile a list of recommended security best practices used throughout the industry .The ASAC delivered its recommendations to TSA in November 2003. These recommendations form the framework for the IP and all of the ASAC recommendations were incorporated. The document offers an extensive list of options, ideas, and suggestions for the airport operator, sponsor, tenant and/or user to choose from when considering security enhancements for GA facilities. This guidance will provide consistency across the Nation with regard to security at GA facilities. The IP also provides a method to discriminate security needs at differing airports. The Airport Characteristics Measurement Tool is a self administered method by which an airport operator can assess an airport's security characteristics and decide which security enhancements would be most appropriate in that particular environment. The IP outlines seven functional areas of GA airport security. The functional areas include:
· Personnel
Each of the functional
areas is further broken down into detailed discussions
of methods and strategies for enhancing general
aviation security .
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Security Contacts &
Emergency Links:
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(866)
GA SECURE
(866) 427-3287 |
Help ensure the security of GA aircraft and airport operations across the country. Call (866) GA SECURE to report any suspicious activity at YOUR airport. |