News

TSA Private Jet Security proposal meets opposition

Private pilots and business groups banded together last week to oppose the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) aviation-security proposal. 

The oppositions took form of 1,500 protest e-mails, representing the largest opposition to a TSA security proposal since its establishment in 2003. Last Monday, the Alaska State Senate urged TSA to drop the proposal, calling it an “exorbitant” cost to plane owners and small airports.

Andy Cebula, head of government affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, maintained, “There’s a visceral type of reaction to this. Our members are saying, I’m a good American, I’m not a threat to our country. Why is there a presumption that somehow I’m a threat and I’ve got to prove myself innocent?”

TSA has not mentioned specific threats involving private jets, but they say that some of the jets equal commercial planes in size and weight making them just as threatening.

If the proposal is implemented, TSA will regulate 15,000 corporate jets and 315 busy airports.

Passengers on the jets will be cross-referenced against terrorist watch-lists. However, no face physical inspections will be implemented. The jet’s crew will also have criminal record background checks.

The opposition emphasizes that the checks could cause travel delays and violate privacy, which are both typical advantages of a private jet. “This could harm thousands of small- and midsized companies that rely on an airplane,” said National Business Aviation Association spokesman Doug Carr. 

TSA will review comments before finalizing the proposed security regulation.