Category Archives: General Aviation Aircraft Operator Security

Secrecy is not always bad

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There seems to be a bad taste in the public’s mouth anytime someone decides to keep something secret or private. While not condoning the behavior of Tiger Woods or the rest of his ilk (I’m talking about cheaters, not professional golfers here), I’m one of those people that believe that somethings should still be kept private. Particularly when it comes to safety and security.

That’s the case with the recent debate about whether corporate aircraft operators have the right to keep their trips from becoming public. Continue Reading

Suicide by Small Plane

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We’re heard the term before – suicide-by-cop. This is where someone threatens the police with a gun to get the police to kill the individual. On February 18, we witnessed suicide-by-small-plane. We did not witness a terrorist attack. We barely witnessed an attack on a government building. Had Stack intended on causing mass casualties, he certainly did not pick an effective tool for the job.

What does this say about general aviation security? Should we be concerned? Want the solution? Read on. Continue Reading

OIG’s New Report on general aviation security threats

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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

Okay, now panic

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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!

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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

What are the real problems with regulating private aircraft?

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With the mantra, “in the name of homeland security,” still frequently being hauled out to justify both good and bad ideas, let’s look at the latest measures proposed by the TSA – the Large Aircraft Security Program.  Many who do not own private aircraft have no problem at all with the government restricting their use. However, let’s… Continue Reading

Obama puts the brakes on LASP NPRM…for now

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With a memorandum issued this morning, President Barack Obama has put the brakes on all regulations and rulemaking that is in progress, until an Obama appointee or designee reviews and approves any new or pending regulations. The White House memo did not specifically call out the GA LASP but it looks like this will at… Continue Reading

Large Aircraft Security Program

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Okay let’s get this thing kicked off.  The big industry buzz lately is the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the TSA has put forth on private airplanes – the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP).  The proposal has been very controversial.  It first came out as a daunting 240+ page document  that will affect general aviation… Continue Reading