TSA Mandates Background Checks on GA Pilots at Airline Airports

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kkoran

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Kent
Cross post from the Red Board.

The AOPA website is reporting that "According to industry sources, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a security directive that extends requirements for background checks to be performed on general aviation pilots based at airports served by airlines."

Here's the a link to the full article:
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/article...6security.html

I'm amazed this is the first we've heard about this. Given the additional cost to pilots, I would think this should have gone through the Rule Making process. This is going to hit pilots' wallets in at least two ways:

1. If you're based at an airport with airline service, you're going to have to pay for the background check and processing of the ID. My guess is $75 - $150. Others whos airports already require an ID may have a better idea as to the cost.

2. If you visit an airport with airline service, there will be no such thing as free parking since someone is going to have to escort you to and from your plane.
 
I can see this nonsense coming to Austin. The city itself isn't very GA friendly even though its users bring in a ton of money to the city.

They should try restricting all those wealthy bizjet owners who show up for the game. Money would come out of the woodwork to replace the idiots on the council.

I'm not making this political but it's a sad fact that GA has many enemies out there. The TSA just makes it worse, all in the name of security.
 
Our local Dept of Aviation already wants to limit who can fly at "his" airports. Limiting student pilots and Experimental aircraft are his first "wants".

Now this to add fuel to his fire.
 
It's already like this in Massachusetts -- and not just at Part 139 (air carrier) airports. Anybody know what it costs there?
 
When I got my SIDA badge at Gateway (KIWA Mesa, Az) it was $75 and a three hour class (how it takes them three hours to say "don't allow tailgaters and make sure the door closes behind you" is beyond me) - fortunately the school paid for it. When I got my SIDA badge for Norfolk (KORF Norfolk, Va) it was $90, no class required - fortunately my company paid for it. Both required the standard paperwork and finger prints for an FBI background check that took about 2-3 weeks.

Even with all this theater in place, there's still going to be a magic yellow box around the Airline Operating Area that you're not supposed to cross without an airline ID. All this does is take more money out of the pockets of pilots, but still relies on ramp agents to enforce the AOA. Good plan. :rolleyes2:
 
Teller1900 said:
When I got my SIDA badge at Gateway (KIWA Mesa, Az) it was $75 and a three hour class (how it takes them three hours to say "don't allow tailgaters and make sure the door closes behind you" is beyond me) - fortunately the school paid for it. When I got my SIDA badge for Norfolk (KORF Norfolk, Va) it was $90, no class required - fortunately my company paid for it. Both required the standard paperwork and finger prints for an FBI background check that took about 2-3 weeks.

Even with all this theater in place, there's still going to be a magic yellow box around the Airline Operating Area that you're not supposed to cross without an airline ID. All this does is take more money out of the pockets of pilots, but still relies on ramp agents to enforce the AOA. Good plan. :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

And as you note, a background check at one is no good at another. Lessee, I've done the DC-3 thing for one background check, the CLEAR registered traveler for another, TS govt clearance for another, background check required by prospective employer, FBI check for a govt contract project, and a UK Iris immigration registration. And a few others. All that on top of the FAA's checks to get a pilot license.

Yet none of them talks to each other or accepts the other's work, so you pay and pay and pay and get probed and probed and probed. And I STILL have to take my shoes off and fork over my liquids if I fly commercially.
 
wsuffa said:
And as you note, a background check at one is no good at another. Lessee, I've done the DC-3 thing for one background check, the CLEAR registered traveler for another, TS govt clearance for another, background check required by prospective employer, FBI check for a govt contract project, and a UK Iris immigration registration. And a few others. All that on top of the FAA's checks to get a pilot license.

Yet none of them talks to each other or accepts the other's work, so you pay and pay and pay and get probed and probed and probed. And I STILL have to take my shoes off and fork over my liquids if I fly commercially.
Click to expand...

Now, see, your problem here is that you're trying to apply logic to a government cash-cow. :nono: We'll have none of that.
 
Ron Levy said:
It's already like this in Massachusetts -- and not just at Part 139 (air carrier) airports. Anybody know what it costs there?
Click to expand...

I think I paid $70 at KBED. And haven't gone flying since I got the badge. It took me about 3 months to get the dang thing. The whole process is ridiculously bureaucratic, and the offices are only open for short hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, closed any day of the week that may actually be convenient. I can't imagine having this at every "air carrier" airport. It would be a nightmare. Scratch that, will be a nightmare
 
The local airport manager here (KSBY -- an air carrier airport) hadn't heard about this. He's checking with his TSA people for more information.
 
If this happens... it will be like the rest of the worlds airports that require a handler for the escort. Just hope they don't start requiring us to get Prior Permission to Land!!! That would really bite...

Most airports that require handling the handler charges for everything from secure crew transport to plane, booking hotels, calling fuel trucks, etc.

It gets expensive in a hurry...
 
This will probably be a successful wedge issue between airlines and small GA.
The security nonsense at KBED makes me want the airlines out of KBED.

The real problems are these "security" requirements and the gross incompentence
of massport, but the easiest fix for that would be to remove the need for the AOA
at KBED by eliminating the airlines.
 
Since the requirement is based on the airlines being there (and for their 'security'), the airlines should be responsible for the cost of the background checks, fingerprinting, and ID administration.
 
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