germb747
Well-Known Member
If the TSA gets it's way through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) known as the Large Aircraft Security Program, pretty soon all general aviation aircraft weighing more than 12,500 lbs will be required to be covered under a TSA-mandated security program which will include a requirement to obtain permission from TSA for each flight carrying passengers. This doesn't just include operators complying with the current "twelve-five" rule, but will include all private aircraft clearing that low weight threshold. For the first time, the government will get to determine who can be carried within the borders of the United States in one's personally-owned-vehicle (POV). You can probably tell how I feel about this proposal, but take the time to educate yourselves and make your feelings known as the public comment period is going on now. TSA is expanding it's reach at such a rate (without even having it's ducks in a row on it's primary mission of airline security and cargo/port security), that eventually I can foresee all general aviation aircraft being subject to TSA requirements regardless of weight or destructive capability. What disturbs me is that 12,500 is just an arbitrary number the FAA came up with decades ago to outline pilot certification requirements; to date nobody has presented a realistic threat assessment to determine whether or not the risks associated with this weight class justify the costs. If you take the time to read the NPRM, you'll see just how flawed it really is as currently written.
To comment, go to http://www.regulations.gov and type in "TSA-2008-0021" as the docket number. Here are a few resources you can use to learn more about the LASP and it's impact on general aviation.
EAA's Briefing Paper
http://eaa.org/news/2008/2008-11-20_calltoaction.asp
http://eaa.org/govt/tsa.asp
AOPA Article
Of course, the NPRM Itself
To comment, go to http://www.regulations.gov and type in "TSA-2008-0021" as the docket number. Here are a few resources you can use to learn more about the LASP and it's impact on general aviation.
EAA's Briefing Paper
http://eaa.org/news/2008/2008-11-20_calltoaction.asp
http://eaa.org/govt/tsa.asp
AOPA Article
Of course, the NPRM Itself