During a Sept. 10 aviation security advisory committee meeting (ASAC), government and industry officials received an update on the proposed Large Aircraft Security Program that was forced back to the drawing board earlier this year.
The Transportation Security Administration is developing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) for LASP that seeks to enhance general aviation security while incorporating the feedback received from pilots, airport officials, and others during the program’s initial public comment period. The SNPRM will have a 60-day public comment period for the aviation industry to weigh in on with their comments.
AOPA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Craig Spence, who is a member of the ASAC, attended the meeting and is spearheading AOPA’s efforts to ensure that future iterations of the LASP are not overly burdensome and costly to GA pilots.
“We will work with the aviation industry and government officials to make sure the upcoming proposal is not cumbersome for pilots,” Spence said.
During the meeting, the committee also said that it would form a GA subgroup that would focus specifically on security issues facing that segment of aviation. AOPA plans to be actively involved in that group as well.
The ASAC is part of the TSA and is charged with recommending improvements in security methods, equipment, and procedures for civil aviation. The committee has remained dormant for more than three years, and AOPA is encouraged that the TSA has decided to re-engage the group.
