"General Aviation Airports Get Federal Security Guidelines"

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

General Aviation Airports Get Federal Security Guidelines
The Palm Beach (FL) Post


The U.S. Transportation Security Administration released Monday its most
elaborate security guidelines yet for general aviation airports. 

The guidelines are not mandatory, but local airport operators are
applauding the move. 

"There is a serious lack of security at general aviation airports," said
Paul Phillips, director of the St. Lucie County International Airport.
"We are excited that we've finally got some guidelines from the federal
level." 

The agency's 48 pages of recommendations include alarm systems, airfield
lighting, video surveillance and identification credentials. The agency
also offers a risk-assessment measurement system. 

Amy Von Walter, spokeswoman for the agency, said it wanted to address
any "potential vulnerabilities" at the airports. The rules are voluntary
because the country's 19,000 general aviation airports vary in scope and
size. 

About 75 percent of U.S. air travel occurs at these smaller airports,
she said.

"This is just to get everybody on the same page," Von Walter said. "This
is something we have been working with the aviation community on for
quite some time." 

Von Walter said some of the measures are already in place at some
airports and should be adopted by those with a high volume of flights. 

Michael Moon, director of the Witham Field airport in Stuart, said the
airport already has added 24-hour security patrols, video cameras, ID
badges, fences, and signs. 

Moon will review the guidelines to see whether there are any other
measures Witham Field should take, and after that, "we'll just have to
look at the cost and available funding." 

Witham Field has about 120,000 flights a year, he said. 

Phillips, whose airport serves about 200,000 flights annually, said
putting the guidelines in place will require input from all parts of the
general aviation community. 

"We need the cooperation of the pilots and businesses that operate at
the airport," He said. 

Craig Siegel, managing partner for Blue Star Jets Inc., a private
business airline founded in late 2000 with an office in Boca Raton, said
the company follows strict security measures by performing background
checks on its employees and passengers. 

"I think that the security is long overdue to be tightened at the
private airstrips," Siegel said. 

Blue Star often flies out of general aviation airports in Boca Raton,
Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Naples. 

"(Security) should be beefed up as long as it's not such an
inconvenience that it takes away from the pleasure of flying private,"
Siegel said.


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