Hi Mike,
I did some checking too, and found out we
don't know enough here either.
Here's the message I sent to the New Mexico Airport Managers'
Association asking for assistance. Maybe
CAA can help too.
Hey
NMAMA & State Aviation,
Has
anyone evaluated the "12,500# and over" rules that apparently took
effect yesterday (June 24)? See http://www.tsa.dot.gov/briefingroom/PressReleases/security_aircraft.shtm
It
looks to me like the TSA implemented the rules as of yesterday, and plans to
send out procedures to the aircraft operators, give them 30 days to comment,
and implement the rules 30 days after that.
The actual procedures are "sensitive security information (SSI) and
must be protected in accordance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Part 1520." So we airport managers
may actually not get to see them.
Nevertheless,
we may be requested/required to provide security
support.
So,
my question is if anyone knows or finds out what the procedures are going to
require (and they are not classified to the point that we can't know them), I
think we should communicate with each other to pass the word. For example, will they require police
standing by, or sterile areas, or whether the operators are going to require
some assistance from the airport.
Here
at Las Cruces,
we previous have not had to meet any of the Part 107 or 108 requirement, and
don't have any of those things readily available. But we are interested in any information that
may allow us to get ahead of the power curve in planning to support these
aircraft operators.
The
rules found in Part 1550.7 of the new TSA regulation, which was published in
the Federal Register on Feb 22. You can
download the thing at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&docid=02-4081-filed
(which is the FR for
Feb 22).
Here're
the actual paragraphs:
"Sec.
1550.7 Operations
in aircraft of 12,500 pounds or more.
(a) Applicability of this section. This
section applies to each aircraft operation conducted in an aircraft with a
maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or more except for those
operations specified in Sec. 1550.5 and those operations conducted under a
security program under part 1544 or 1546 of this chapter.
(b) Procedures. Any person conducting an
operation identified in paragraph (a) of this section must conduct a search of
the aircraft before departure and screen passengers, crewmembers, and other
persons and their accessible property (carry-on items) before boarding in
accordance with security procedures approved by TSA.
(c) Compliance date. Persons identified in
paragraph (a) of this section must implement security procedures when notified
by TSA. TSA will notify operators by NOTAM, letter, or other communication when
they must implement security procedures.
(d) Waivers. TSA may permit a person
conducting an operation identified in this section to deviate from the
provisions of this section if TSA finds that the operation can be conducted
safely under the terms of the waiver."
Anybody
with any info, please let us all know!
Ted
Morris, Airport Manager
Las
Cruces.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael A. Strawbridge
[mailto:straw@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 11:42
AM
To: help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: CAA: Mutual Help
List, Mutual Help List, Large Charter Security
Got my info. from the NBAA website. Just had a
phone conversation w another Airport Manager and this may not be as big an
issue as I had thought. Are we talking just merely having a person with a
wand check persons ? Or more ? It appears to me that the mandate doesn't
have a lot of teeth as of yet...that is where comments in the NPRM process
really come in handy. Comments from the people (us/we) in the trenches
bring relevant concerns to the surface and then can be dealt w much better
than making changes after in after the fact manner.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday,
June 25, 2002 11:23 AM
Subject: RE: CAA:
Mutual Help List, Mutual Help List, Large Charter Security
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the
heads-up. Do you know of a reference
site on the web where this new mandate is posted?
Ted.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael A. Strawbridge
[mailto:straw@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:59
AM
To: help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: CAA: Mutual Help List,
Large Charter Security
Leave no stone unturned ! TSA has now mandated a
"Private Large Charter Aircraft Security Rule" without the use
of NPRM. I can see the purpose and justification for
no NPRM, however, as is all security mandate/regulation, it is burdensome,
time consuming, and costly. Albeit in this case it is our
Charter and FBO's that bare the brunt/owness.
How are some of the smaller GA airports (and their
Charter Operators/FBO's) preparing to deal with this involved issue, have
discussions been implemented ? Seems TSA will now require GA
airports to provide the same facilities, process, requirements
and procedures as seen at all Part 139
Airports.
Could it be that at GA airports with these type
of operations our FBO's will now become "independent security
enclaves" ? As opposed to the the typical
arrangement we see at Commercial Service airports with the use of a designated
passenger terminal for enplanements/deplanements, screening
etc,. Should some airports plan on creating/designating
a shared area for use by all Large Charter Operators to spread/share the
cost ? CFR 49 1540 & 1544 also specifies the requirement
for a sterile area and screening equipment. Then in the
OMB's economic analysis they express that the cost will not be
burdensome ? Is this actually the case ?
