The Minnesota report caught the ears of the folks at AOPA headquarters in Maryland, and Phil Boyer, AOPA president, promptly sent off a letter to Heffelfinger. “We respectfully believe that your quotes, if reported accurately, reflect significant misunderstanding about aviation security, and, in fact, are not consistent with the views and policies of the U.S. agencies responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the nation’s general aviation airports,” Boyer said. Boyer noted that a report last year by the federal Government Accountability Office concluded that “the small size, lack of fuel capacity, and minimal destructive power of most general aviation aircraft make them unattractive to terrorists.” AOPA tried to speak directly with Heffelfinger about the issues, but had not succeeded as of late last week.
…AOPA Responds To Concerns…
Key Takeaways:
- AOPA president Phil Boyer challenged a Minnesota official (Heffelfinger) for quotes reflecting a "significant misunderstanding" of aviation security.
- Boyer stated that Heffelfinger's views were inconsistent with U.S. agencies responsible for ensuring general aviation safety and security.
- AOPA cited a federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which concluded that most general aviation aircraft are "unattractive to terrorists" due to their small size, lack of fuel capacity, and minimal destructive power.
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