The Office of the Inspector General released it’s report on TSA’s Role in General Aviation Security (click here for copy). In it, the Inspector General noted that the terrorism threat posed by general aviation aircraft is “limited and mostly hypothetical…the current status of [general aviation] operations does not present a serious homeland security vulnerability requiring… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Jeff Price
Some good news on the horizon?
You will want to keep track of this one! The House is set to review H.R. 2200, TSA’s authorization bill. Part of the bill requires airport operators notify the Federal Security Director whenever local police are called to an aircraft or onto the airfield. Okay, so that’s another administrative step, now for the better news.… Continue Reading
Pulling the Puffers
TSA made the decision to pull the puffers from screening checkpoints. Click here for the story. The question was posed to me by a local radio station as to whether the puffers, formerly known as Portal Trace Detectors, were a waste of money. My answer was: not really. It was a test of technology and… Continue Reading
PanIC-demic
Okay, the PANIC-demic is over it seems. Although the actual human impact turned out to be relatively minor in nature, the Swine Flu did serve a purpose. It likely was a precursor to much more serious issues that may be coming our way. Hopefully, it provided your airport an opportunity to dust off any pandemic flu… Continue Reading
Swine Flu at an airport – confirmed
Authorities have confirmed that the swine flu has been diagnosed in a Colorado man who works as a baggage handler at Denver International Airport. Click here for the story. Also, the FAA has issued a Safety Alert for Operators. There is a checklist of actions you can compare your airport’s response plans to at the PandemicFlu.gov… Continue Reading
Swine Flu
It’s here folks – the swine flu. The Centers for Disease Control have issued a level 4 pandemic alert (the World Health Organization has it at 5), which means that there is an increased risk of swine flu but does NOT mean it will necessarily get to the pandemic level. A level 6 CDC alert… Continue Reading
Columbine and Airport Security
On the 10th anniversary of Columbine, I’ve been reading Dave Cullen’s excellent book on the subject and having some insights as related to airport security. First, my personal connection to Columbine was as a Jefferson County public information officer for the Jeffco Airport at the time. All available PIO’s were sent to the site the… Continue Reading
Upgrading Security
The New York Times reported that TSA intends on replacing metal detectors will full body imagers. Despite the privacy issues, I have to agree that it’s about time. We’re still using 1970’s technology to defeat a 21st Century Threat. Oddly enough, in the 1980s and 1990s, when plastic explosives became the explosive of choice and… Continue Reading
Okay, now panic
The Denver Post reported today about the impacts of Security Directive 08F on several small commercial service airports in Colorado. To view the article, click here. DISCLOSURE: Since 08F is a Security Directive and by nature, is Sensitive Security Information, I will not divulge any information here that has not already appeared in the Denver… Continue Reading
Don’t Panic!
Seems the GA community is in an uproar because some GA Fixed-Base Operators at some commercial service airports have experienced TSA’s new Playbook program. See the article here: http://www.avjobsweekly.com/enews/content.asp?bm=472 What the operators have experienced is a common anti-terrorism measure that is used by police agencies, security personnel and counterterrorism agencies throughout the world. Often known as… Continue Reading