AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2019 - 13

GA needs a voice, AOPA says

2020
TEST PREP
Study & Prepare

Association is advocating for TSA input
GENERAL AVIATION WORKS HARD to enhance aviation security but has little voice in policy decisions that affect GA pilots, AOPA said in a response to a Transportation Security
Administration survey.
Only about 400 large airports with commercial service-out of 20,000 airports in
the United States-are TSA-regulated for security procedures. At those airports, impediments to GA access to air operations areas and aircraft parking can be significant, AOPA
said in a letter responding to a recent TSA policy feedback survey.
Each airport works with the agency to develop a unique security plan. However,
transient and based GA pilots do not have access to the specifics of those airports'
requirements "because the information is considered sensitive security information,"
said Nobuyo Reinsch, AOPA director of aviation security. "We strongly believe that there
should be a formal process where the industry and operators can provide input to minimize negative impacts."
AOPA's response also pointed out to security officials that GA pilots are responsible
for their passengers' safety and security, and because pilots hold FAA pilot certificates,
they are, in effect, "vetted by the TSA on a daily basis."
Rather than subject GA pilots to the same security constraints as airport employees
or passengers, AOPA advocates for a risk-based approach.
AOPA also cited the association's long record of working to maintain and improve airport security, including the AOPA Airport Watch program, launched in 2003; a security
fact sheet released in October 2018; and AOPA's work with the FAA to rewrite the Security
Identifications Display Area section (2-3-15) of the Aeronautical Information Manual.
AOPA urged the TSA to consider ways to solicit ideas from aircraft operators and
"conduct impact assessments when developing new security policies and procedures."
aopa.org/pilot/security

down from 40 percent in 2018 and 54 percent
in 2017. The declining use of Flight Service
for initial briefings was most pronounced
in Alaska, where 45 percent of respondents
said they considered Flight Service their primary briefing source, down from 49 percent
in 2018 and 64 percent in 2017. 
AOPA issued five recommendations
based on the survey: three encouraging
progress on weather-infrastructure development to meet the unique needs of pilots
in Alaska; one to identify reasons why pilots

don't submit more pireps; and one to bring
aviation's perspective into the National
Weather Service's Hazard Simplification
Project. The project is an effort to create a
"weather-ready nation" by increasing public
awareness and preparation for weatherrelated and water-related hazards.
AOPA makes the survey data available
to the FAA's Air Traffic Organization for the
ATO's development of its list of the top 5
safety initiatives for the air traffic system.

Know the essentials
to become a safe,
competent pilot .
Available in print and for your
PC, tablet or smart phone.

aopa.org/pilot/faaservices

aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 13

asa2fly.com/testprep
http://www.aopa.org/pilot/security http://www.aopa.org/pilot/faaservices http://www.asa2fly.com/testprep http://www.aopa.org/pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2019
