TSA Proposes Large Aircraft Security Program
November 11, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that is designed to strengthen the security of general aviation by minimizing the vulnerability of aircraft being used as weapons or to transport dangerous people or materials.
The proposed regulation is touted as reducing the susceptibility of large aircraft misuse by individuals wishing to harm the U.S., according to the TSA.
The Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) regulation would require all U.S. operators of aircraft exceeding 12,500 pounds maximum take-off weight to implement security programs that would be subject to compliance audits by the TSA.
The proposed regulation would also require operators to verify that passengers are not on the no fly and/or selectee portions of the federal government's consolidated terrorist watch list.
The LASP is a component in the department's plans to enhance domestic general aviation security, according to the TSA.
The LASP would require unregulated general aviation operations over a specific weight threshold to adopt security measures, which would align these operations with operations regulated for security purposes.
The TSA enhances international and domestic general aviation security by developing a strategy to:
- Establish baseline standards of security for general aviation operations.
- Ensure that flight crews undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history records and terrorist name check.
- Designate security coordinators.
- Conduct watch list matching of passengers through TSA-approved watch list matching service provider.
- Check/validate property on board for unauthorized persons and accessible weapons.
The NPRM on the LASP is available at the TSA web site.
Source: U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).