By ALAN ARMSTRONG
Imagine having to get permission from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before taking off in your aircraft with your friends or family members. Imagine having to vet your family members by way of a watch list service provider that you would pay for before you could board people in your airplane. Imagine having to develop a security system for your airplane, including an aircraft security coordinator, an inflight security coordinator, and ground security coordinator.
Imagine you operate from a remote airfield and a large aircraft (which the TSA deems a weapon of mass destruction) lands at your airport and your airport has to be closed until the large aircraft departs or is otherwise secured. Imagine being required to have multiple badges to operate on various areas of a single airport and further consider that the security badge you have for your home airport is not valid when you land at other airports deemed reliever airports by the TSA.
Imagine that TSA personnel appear at your airport, empty the contents of your car, empty the contents of your hangar and subject you to searches of your person. Imagine the TSA bypassing the Administrative Procedure Act and promulgating security directives without any opportunity for the American public to comment on them, much less oppose them.
All of this could soon become a reality if pilots do not take action.
On March 27 at 2 p.m. EST at the Peach State Airport (GA2) southwest of Griffin, Georgia, there will be a town hall meeting where members of the general aviation community can learn more about the TSA. Ron Alexander has offered his facilities at the Peach State Airport where pilots can learn more about the TSA’s Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP), Security Directives SD-8G and SD-8F, and the TSA’s classified program called “Operation Playbook.”
For more information: 770-451-0313 or [email protected], put Town Hall Meeting in subject line.