TSA Debacle: June 1st Deadline for Mandatory Badges Approaches

Despite stiff pressure from a number of aviation member organziations, the Transportation Security Adminstration has so far not backed down from a June 1st deadline for a rule that will require all unescorted personnel to have approved badges while being on the active areas of the ramp of an airport that has commercial air service or risk huge fines and possible additional legal action.

The directive is unclear, and despite its imminent release, the rule is little known by pilots, FBO operators or security personnel. Questions abound, and it's hard to find answers for them. Exactly who needs badges and where they need them is unclear, and it 's not clear where, if anywhere, a pilot might look to find out if he, for instance, needs an escort from his airplane to the terminal building of an unfamiliar airport that he lands at after hours.

As an example of just how little known the rule is, I called the desks at my local FBOs to find out how much, if anything, they knew about the new directive. The answer in both cases was, it was the first time they'd even heard about it. The front desk attendant at Atlantic Aviation in Austin, for example, assured me in a very poilte way that I must be wrong about the directive, because he surely would have heard about such a thing. He did give me a number to get a badge, if I wanted one.

When I spoke with a TSA official at the airport who did know about the directive, I was told that Atlantic's ramps were not controlled areas--though nothing in TSA's guidance would lead one to believe that--and that the tee-hangers at Signature, further down the field, were for some reason required-badge areas, though they're hundreds of yards further way from the airline terminal. And in case you were wondering, there are no markings or signs of any kind to indicate which areas are prohibited and which are not.

What the rule requires is equally unclear. Do pilots who fly in to an airport served by even one airline flight a day require a badge, FOR THAT SPECIFIC AIRPORT? The rule seems to suggest they do. This is, of course, an absurdity. I counted: last year I landed at 32 different airports that I think have airline service, and I might have missed a couple. How could a pilot be expected to get badges for every one of those airports--would a personal visit be required for the fingerprinting and background check application?

To add insult to injury, the TSA is instituting this rule by way of a security rule process, which seems little more than a way for the TSA to put forth the rule and not have to address what it knows will be a deluge of negative comments.

AOPA is directly appealing to the TSA to stop the madness and withdraw the rule. To see the text of Craig Fuller's letter to the agency, click here. (AOPA Letter)

And we agree. It's time to contact your elected officials and ask them to put pressure on the TSA to do the right thing here. The rule, in our opinion, would be confusing, unevenly implemented, randomly enforced, and completely unfunded. AND it would do no positive good toward improving security.

Comments

[Robert J. McCormick]

I am close to chucking it all in. The TSA and the FAA seem to have a goal of suppressing general aviation in the USA. It's not hard to develop an attitude of paranoia regarding our government these days.

[Dave Ashton]

I strongly feel that it is time that the pilots of America demand the resignation of Janet Nepolitano. This madness along with other insults to the citizens of OUR country have gone one long enough. The "leadedship" of the HSA must be using Marcsist play books for it SOP.

[Daniel C. Stybr]

Typical form over function and a complete lack of concern or comprehension of the impact a bizarre mandate will have on GA. At some point the GA pilot walks away from aviation and the system fails. The impact of the loss of GA is so far reaching that TSA will be unable to reverse what it has created. No need for badges if there are no people at the airports. No people, no pilots, no safety problem. That's a fine solution.

[R. Little]

We flew in a 421 to ten countries in Europe. (flew it across the pond). Never asked for our passports or even for ID. Not one customs asked anything. Upon return to the US the US Customs held us for two days while they checked out everything. Papers, plane etc. And we are American born citizens. They were nasty and basically moronic government officials with a small amount of power. Reminds me of the Nazis and WW 2. The TSA is out of line, tell them to F off.
R. Little

[Robert Brooks]

Mr. McCormick, our government is basically upside down; please don't chuck it all in...it is times like this that American citizens need to fight for the freedoms that are being taken away each and every day by an out of control Executive, Legislative and soon to be Judicial Branch of Government...Stay and fight...if not for you, do it for the future of General Aviation.

[Inthal Michael]

Hallo my dear Americans

My name is Michael and I am a young Executive Pilot from Austria,Europe. You guys might know that general aviation in Europe is very small,expensive and for us Pilots it is a pain in the A... to comply with all that stupid rules over here on the old continent.

I allways love to spend time (and money) in the USA for pleasure flying or Type ratings so please stop your government from dwstroying the last and only "Aviation Paradise" in the world !!!!!!!!

Kind Regards

Inthal Michael

[Russell Fauver]

'Stay and fight'. Yes, that's what it's coming to, and the folks in Washington know it. Why else would there be 60 nm radius of protection around DC?

[Scott Armitage]

The TSA should change their shirt colors to brown. Think about it.

[James Schmitt]

We have all heard the old saw "Those that would trade freedom for security deserve neither" The TSA was developed to do just that. So many stories about the absurdity of some of the procedures has caused me to dislike air travel. Something I once enjoyed and looked forward to.

[Don Grossman]

RIDICULOUS!

[Bill Ambrose]

This is simply Government out of control and I don't know how we can stop it at this point. All they have to say is "it's in the interest of National Security". We need a strong third party. Bill A

[Mike Baldwin]

In January I took the two-hour course and test at KTUS, and had a background check. Badge was issued in April, good only at KTUS. Process was relatively painless, but unnecessary as I know all the folks at my FBO.
Mike B
Meridian KTUS & KAPA

[Ron Smith]

Knowing the stupidity of the TSA, they will want a different card for every airport. They forced me to get a TSA issued TWIC card for work. This card requires a photo, fingerprinting, FBI background check, and 120 dollars every 5 years. Would you believe the TSA will not accept their own card as ID to get on a commercial flight?

[Dr. Kenneth Nolde]

Guys, I was at Potomac (VKX) Airport when 9/11 occurred and I have seen the stupidity of TSA up close and personal for many years. We were forced to close the field for 6 months, get background checks, and fly under extreme positive control in the TFR. The airfield owner Dave Wartofsky and I fought TSA and found that TSA knew almost nothing about airport/aircraft security, I (we)provided analysis of the GA threat to no avail--nothing seems to have changed in the ensuing years. For the record, in Nov 01 that the USAF dismissed GA as a very limited, if any, threat. I left VKX in 2005 and we were still under the severe restrictions. I say FIGHT TSA, GA flying is worth it--Dr. Ken Nolde, Major USAF(Ret.)

[Ronald GOSLING]

I am a privat pilot from France and live in Limoges. I own and fly a N registered PA28 I bought in the US and flew back across the pond myself. Just wanted to let you know how it works here.
When on the GA ramp you must be able to show EITHER a badge OR a pilot's license. If you are a passenger escorted by "your" pilot no problem, you need nothing. This is in my opinion a sensible rule because it keeps out people who have nothing to do on the ramp from being there and may be a good thing for security. I think anything more restrictive is nonsense.
Good luck for keeping you aviation paradise alive !

[Tom Grier]

It would be nice if the badges were vailid at all airports not simply you home base. It also seems so ludicris that you can not walk to and from your plane unescorted, but you can get in the plane and taxi all over the airport with no escort. You can even taxi right on to the active runway and take off!

[Tony Hansberger]

I was an airport screener at Dullas Inl Airport and the only problem that I saw with the system was that they had too many forgien people in management position. They only had to make it a law that all screeners be american citizens and create a small gov agency to manage it..

The TSA was not needed in the first place if existing agencies did their jobs correctly and used the laws in place we would not have had this power hurgury agency. After the TSA took over they have done no better but have created another expensive brucratic agency that shows it is incapable of using common sense. Its a power play.

Customs, FBI and local police could do the job with good management . The 911 thing could not have been stopped even with the TSA in place.

[John Ayala]

It reminds me of the whole citizen requirement placed on CFIs - it is mandatory & ridiculous and in the small print pretty much says the TSA is depending on the CFIs because there is no way they can audit the accuracy. Now with the TSAs bureaucratic audacity, they want to shift risk once again to the local level. Instead of having something like an ISO standard, lets make each airport be responsible and create a huge mess of things - thats our TSA (no wonder nothing works.

[Rick Steele]

When I read stuff like this, I question whether to get back into GA. I sold my Mooney in October and am supposed to look at a Bonanza this weekend to buy. Kind of makes me hope the prebuy goes bad. If I didn't love flying so much, I wouldn't buy another one.

[D Elliott]

When you appoing "Stupid" you get "Stupid".

[J. Hanmer]

We in the GA must stand and fight in this grab for power by the petty bureaucrats. Their goal is not safety but power; we may lose but it is more honorable to go down fighting that do nothing. I see private aviation as one of the last frontiers of the American spirit. I have been flying almost 50 years and have seen the government growing larger with little if any commensurant benefit and a considerable loss of individual freedom.

[Tim]

How many of our Cival Liberties are we going to have to give up to "feel safe"? I'm not afraid of terrorists. I'm afraid of my government.

[Jan Jansen]

Stupid is as stupid does.

There are stupid people running the show and the American people are stupid for voting them in and allowing them to continue in office.

BTW, unless something has changed (and I may be wrong), I don't believe Wittman Field has had scheduled air service for several years and therefore shouldn't be affected.

[JB]

It's not Napolitano that needs to go, it all the TSA leadership in DC. They have no idea what goes on "in the real world." Most of them haven't worked outside the beltway in decades. They claim to have talked to airports, but they have "friendly" airports they talk to to get support for their proposals. Get the old-timers out, change the overly burdensome federal hiring process and some of us airport would go to work for TSA to keep sanity in the security arena!

[Clyde Fredrickson]

Our government is out of control and they think no one cares or that we are too stupid to make correct decisions. Please, write, call, AND stop at your elected officials office. This is just one more reason to attend the next TEA party in your area! EVERYBODY on capital hill needs to be fired or put on notice! Find someone running for office that has at least read the US Constitution and support them. Speak up now while we still have a somewhat free press. VOTE next election and do your homework- everything happening now was predicted- but the majority gave up freedoms for perceived security. We will end up with neither, and fast!