AVIATION SECURITY

GAMA's Bunce Says LASP Has Severe Shortcomings
Maintains Program Won't Measurably Improve Security
Aero News Network
1/30/2009

Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers
Association (GAMA) told Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
officials at Wednesday's public meeting in Houston, TX, that the burdensome
requirements proposed in the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) will
not provide commensurate security benefits and would severely limit the
utility of general aviation aircraft, causing irreparable harm to the
industry.

"During the past eight years, enhancing security has been at the forefront
of the general aviation community," said Bunce. "To date, our industry has
developed and implemented over a dozen mandatory and voluntary programs
based on an assessment of general aviation vulnerabilities in the broader
context of transportation security policy."

Bunce pointed out that the program fails to recognize the difference
between private general aviation operations and commercial operations. He
further explained how for many private/corporate operations, a cumbersome
security program will not provide measurable improvements in security or
risk management. He emphasized that not addressing these shortcomings will
cost our industry jobs, hurt businesses and has the potential to cut-off
many rural areas from air service all together.

While encouraged by the TSA’s willingness to participate in public
consultation and meetings, GAMA believes the rule’s potential impact on the
GA industry is significant enough to warrant continued TSA engagement with
industry through a security rulemaking committee. "It is imperative that we
have a formal process in place to address industry’s key concerns and
provide proposals for practical ways of implementing those security
requirements," Bunce said.