…Are We There Yet?…

How exactly do you know what your local GA airport should be doing? Obviously, those busy paved aerodromes near larger cities and potential targets are expected to do more than grass strips surrounded by pastures and farmland. The 48-page document includes a type of scoring system to determine what sort of security your facility should have and offers a number of suggestions. The suggestions range from keeping an eye on aircraft renters to establishing an on-airport “community watch” program. An amazingly reasonable sentence warns airports that “Expending resources on an unnecessary security enhancement (e.g. complete perimeter fencing, and access controls) instead of a more facility specific, reasonable, and more effective method (e.g. tiedown chains with locks) may actually be detrimental to an airport’s overall security posture.” The TSA says the security guidelines are a living document that will change ‘over time and with input. Version 1.0 will eventually give way to version 2.0, after additional hoped-for give-and-take between the Office of Homeland Security, airport managers and aviation’s alphabets. Airport managers are encouraged to read the document and send in their thoughts and concerns to GAInfo@dhs.gov with “GA Airport Security” in the subject line. The TSA is also using the opportunity to remind pilots and others at GA airports to call GA-SECURE (1-866-427-3287) if they ever see anything at their local field that seems out of place or otherwise troubling.