A bill has been introduced in the Florida legislature, convening next week, that would give Florida's Department of Law Enforcement oversight of GA airport security. As State House Bill 977 is drafted, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) would have new powers to review and approve security plans for general aviation airports that have at least one runway greater than 4,999 feet. In a letter to state Rep. Sandra Adams, AOPA expressed strong concerns about bringing a new branch of the government into the mix at this time. AOPA wrote that the FDLE is not as familiar with the intricacies of airport operations as is the state Department of Transportation and that the bill could lead to a duplicative expenditure of limited state resources.
March 4, 2005