TSA appoints liaison to GA
By Tom Norton
General Aviation News
3/17/2009

The Transportation Security Administration has responded to calls from
aviation advocacy groups to listen to industry input and has established a
“stakeholder liaison position” dedicated to addressing concerns about
recent security measures.

Several recent TSA initiatives, including the Large Aircraft Security
Program, a security directive that would require additional screenings for
general aviation pilots at commercial airports, and a “playbook” of
security procedures that was applied incorrectly to GA operations, have
alarmed members of AOPA, EAA, NBAA and others by proposing the imposition
of heavy restrictions on GA. AOPA has been urging the agency to interface
with pilots and operators in order for it to understand how its policies
affect the GA community.

“Establishing a dialogue with stakeholders is crucial,” said Craig Spence,
AOPA vice president for aviation security. “We’ve been frustrated about the
lack of communication, and this is an important first step in opening the
lines of communication so that the TSA can see the impact of its actions on
general aviation.”

The TSA plans to provide an e-mail address for communication between the
TSA and GA stakeholders, along with coordinated monthly telephone
conferences. In addition to providing the TSA with feedback, the liaison
could help to lift the “veil of secrecy” that has hung over many of the
TSA’s recent proposals and security measures, Spence said.