The Government Accountability Office has called for
Increased federal oversight and continuing partnership
with the private sector to protect general aviation
operations in the long term.
It said federal and state governments and the general
aviation industry each play a security role, but that
while the federal government provides guidance and
funding and enforces regulatory requirements, airport
operators bear most of the security responsibility.
TSA plans to release a self-assessment tool for airport
operators in place of on-site vulnerability assessments
of the vast general aviation network, and to employ “a
systematic and analytical risk management process,
which is considered a best practice, to assess the
threats and vulnerabilities of general aviation,”
according to GAO-05-144, though it added TSA has yet
to develop a risk management implementation plan.
In coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration
and other federal agencies, TSA has restricted airspace
over landmarks and special events — but FAA “has not
established written policies or procedures for reviewing
and revalidating the need for flight restrictions that
limit access to airspace for indefinite periods of
time,” which could have a negative impact on general
aviation, said GAO.
It said general aviation stakeholders have partnered
with the federal government to enhance security, for
example by developing best practices through industry
associations as well as the “airport watch program,”
which GAO likened to the “neighborhood watch.”
