Airfield and aircraft security alert

Airfield and aircraft security alert

Since September 11, 2001, the FAA has advised owners and operators of airfields of the potential for follow-on terrorist attacks. Recent statements, apparently by Al Qaeda leaders, threaten attacks against U.S. economic interests.

As we have done in the past, the FAA is seeking your cooperation in helping to safeguard the air transportation system. We believe that it is prudent to inform airport and airfield operators of our concerns. Accordingly, to help keep public and private airfields safe and secure, we need your help.

If you are the owner or operator of an airfield, please:

1. Distribute this circular to all organizations that have a regular presence on the airfield.
2. Contact your local law enforcement agency and verify the procedures you would use to report any suspicious activity at your airfield.
3. Promptly report information indicating possible criminal activity to your local law enforcement agency.

Persons involved in operating, servicing, or renting small aircraft should be on the look-out for:

• Aircraft with unusual or unauthorized modifications;
• Persons loitering for extended periods in the vicinity of parked aircraft or in air operations areas;
• Pilots who appear to be under the control of other persons;
• Persons wishing to obtain aircraft without presenting proper credentials or persons who present apparently valid credentials but do not have a corresponding level of aviation knowledge; or
• Anything that doesn't look right! (i.e., events or circumstances that do not fit the pattern of lawful normal activity at your airport).

REMEMBER: If you see something highly dangerous, such as weapons or explosives being loaded on an aircraft, or if you have other reason to believe that a serious crime or some sort of attack is about to occur, immediately call local law enforcement authorities!

AND CALL YOUR NEAREST FBI OFFICE