News Archive

Mr. John Magaw (Nominee)
Under Secretary of Transportation Security
Transportation Security Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Mr. Magaw:

First and foremost, congratulations on your recent nomination. The tasks before you based on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, have caused all Americans to look at how government can mitigate domestic security risks, including those related to aviation. Congress and President George Bush responded by enacting the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (Public Law 107-71). While the public's main focus is the security of airline travel, a few sections of this law deal with general aviation. Outside of Part 135 on-demand air charter, general aviation is all civilian flying except scheduled air carriers and the military. It includes a wide range of activities from personal transportation, business flights, recreational flying, emergency medical operations, and overnight cargo. Section 132(b) of this new law requires a report to be prepared on airspace and other security measures to improve general aviation security.

To assist your new organization in meeting this congressional mandate, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) asked security expert and former head of security for the Federal Aviation Administration, Admiral Cathal Flynn, to assess the vulnerability of our industry. With Flynn's input, the attached recommendations have been drafted, which we all feel can accomplished in a timely manner.

The attached recommendations contain actions that can improve security without diminishing general aviation's nearly $65 billion contribution to our nation's economy nor the personal mobility it facilitates. Some of these recommendations require no direct government action but may require a joint government/industry effort to effectively communicate these recommendations to operators and airports. There are several areas that will require extensive FAA action.

We hope these are helpful to you and members of your staff. Our organizations stand ready and willing to provide solutions to the issues your agency faces, and we hope this document provides the basis for further discussions.

Sincerely,

December 12, 2001