AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 62

while private and commercial training came to a standstill. For cash-strapped flight schools, closure of more than a week meant the end. Often working on thin margins, small staffs, and limited resources— and now facing a crippled economy, uncertainty, restrictions, and the unfortunate fact that the terrorists had trained in U.S. flight schools—many schools found it nearly impossible to recover. “While the impact to all Americans can’t be overstated, the flight training industry in this country was hit particularly hard after 9/11. And unfortunately it has yet to fully bounce back,” said Flight Training Deputy Editor Ian J. Twombly. “Sure, schools were allowed to start flying soon after the attacks, but the damage was done. Many flight schools operate on razor-thin margins and the combination of the down time and the confusion that immediately followed the approval to begin flying again meant that many schools simply didn’t make it past the initial event. Since then, the flight training industry has been dealt blow after blow: We trained the terrorists; people were in a general malaise and not interested in avocational activities; the economy tanked; and restrictions followed restrictions. The U.S. student pilot population is still down by tens of thousands from pre9/11 levels, and there’s doubt whether it will ever come back.” AOPA is currently hard at work on our largest initiative to date—the AOPA Flight Training Student Retention Initiative. This is a long-term, industry-wide effort dedicated to increasing the per-

centage of students who earn a pilot certificate. Facilitating a positive flight training experience will help student pilots achieve their goals while growing the pilot population and strengthening general aviation. The association is creating resources designed to help student pilots, instructors, and flight schools get the most out of the flight training experience (www.aopa.org/ftinitiative).

General aviation is an economic engine that pumps $150 billion into the U.S. economy each year and creates 1.2 million jobs.
Contributing to the rebuild Because we are pilots representing pilots, general aviation and its restoration became our focus after the terrorist attacks. But we are also members of the free world and recognize that keeping our country safe is everyone’s responsibility. “The single most important security enhancement that grew from the aftereffects of 9/11 is AOPA’s Airport Watch program,” said Rudinger. Congress established the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after the 9/11 attacks. The TSA partnered with AOPA in 2006 and 2007 to promote AOPA’s nationwide aviation watch system that

was first created in March 2003, which is supported by a centralized toll-free hotline. “Not only does Airport Watch demonstrate that the GA community is serious about protecting itself from those who would do harm, it provides a great tool for educating security agencies and government officials on the value of partnering with GA to protect and preserve the industry,” said Rudinger. Airport Watch (www.aopa.org/ airportwatch) uses more than 600,000 pilots as the eyes and ears for reporting suspicious activity at airports across the country. It received federal funding beginning in 2006. AOPA designed a course with guidelines to help pilots help enhance GA security (flash.aopa. org/asf/gasecurity). An image problem The restrictions and unfounded fears surrounding general aviation after the attacks pointed out that GA had an image problem. Testifying before the House of Representatives two weeks after the attacks, then-AOPA President Phil Boyer said to other GA representatives at the witness table, “Shame on us. Perhaps if we had been more vocal about the value of this important segment of aviation, we wouldn’t be here now, arguing the case for fewer airspace restrictions.” General aviation is an economic engine that pumps $150 billion into the U.S. economy each year and creates 1.2 million jobs. But at a time when GA should have been part of the solution, we were considered part of the problem. From that realization was born the GA Restoration Fund and its accompanying

GA security initiatives since 9/11
Many, many security initiatives and changes have been created and put into place since the terrorist attacks. These are several that impact everyone in general aviation: Recurrent Security Awareness Training—Requires flight instructors to undergo annual recurrent security awareness (September 2004). Flight Training Security—Non-U.S. citizens must undergo fingerprint background check and be approved by the TSA (September 2004). Pilot Identification—FAA mandates that pilots in command must have in their possession a government-issued photographic ID along with their pilot certificate (October 2002). Department of Transportation issues new difficult-to-counterfeit plastic pilot certificates replacing paper ones (July 2003). FAA develops rule and process for “picture ID” pilot certificate (January 2005). All pilots must have obtained a plastic certificate by March 31, 2010. AOPA’s Airport Watch—Based on neighborhood watch program calling for pilots to “Lock Up and Look Out” (February 2002). GA Secure Hotline—AOPA’s Airport Watch is supported by a toll-free national government hotline (1-866-GA-SECURE) to report suspicious activity (November 2002). Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP)—Aircraft more than 12,500 pounds follow prescribed security measures, including criminal background checks on their flight crews and vetting of passengers (February 2002). TSA-Proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP)— TSA extends security requirements to all aircraft owners and operators using aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds (October 2008). Currently under review; expected to be published in the Federal Register for public comment December 2011. Aircraft Registry—All aircraft owners are required to register their aircraft every three years (October 2010).

AOPA PILOT •

62 • SEPTEMBER

2011

http://www.aopa.org/ftinitiative http://www.aopa.org/airportwatch http://www.aopa.org/airportwatch http://www.flash.aopa.org/asf/gasecurity http://www.flash.aopa.org/asf/gasecurity

AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011

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