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.
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.
You all have only yourselves to blame. 911 was a rare 'drive-by shooting by a gang of thugs' (Tom Clancy) but you allowed this TSA thing to grow like an amoeba monster, under the fear-mongering of Bush. How do you stop a bureaucracy? Call your Senators and your Representative today and say "enough"! The local small airport in Allentown (Queen City) requires badges now. Biggest thing is a KA-200. Plus to drive to your T-hangar, an Umbrella insurance policy worth a $Million. Bush started this, you know he did, now let's put a stop to it before a whole facet of aviation, General Aviation, becomes a mass casualty.
Posted by: About Had It | May 21, 2009 at 10:27 AM
If the TSA are so worried about security, why not require all pilots to apply for a common badge or security pass that was valid at all airports with commercial traffic? I don't see why they NEED to do this... as a valid FAA pilot license should suffice. But it makes far more sense than requiring individual passes at every airport (which is a complete absurdity and unworkable). Having a separate security badge would mean pilots who simply fly from small GA airports need not to worry. In Australia, they have implemented the requirement of a security pass that all pilots apply for. This security badge allows them access to all airports with commercial traffic day or night. I don't know however, if there have been any major problems. Getting a security pass requires a security check and doing this for all American pilots would be a major drag.
Posted by: Christopher | May 21, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Ronald Reagan said, "Just Say NO!!!" Stand up and tell the TSA to get lost. If we don't stop them now you'll soon be having to do the same thing to get in your car - or walk across the street. Stop them. Call your congressman and if he doesn't do anything about it, replace him.
Posted by: Stephen | May 21, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Elections have consequences. Unfortunately at the rate we are going, we may have experienced the last free election in the United States. The TSA is totally worthless, as is most of Napolitano's empire. I have an Arab-American friend who is afraid to fly through several US airports, especially Minneapolis, because the only people they check are old blond ladies.
His comment to me was, "You would think 9/11 was caused by a group of Norwegian grandmothers".
Posted by: Dan Last | May 21, 2009 at 11:00 AM
TSA? - BADGES? We don't need no stinking badges!! Meanwhile in a commercial ramp area some 80 something year old lady is being harrassed by TSA agent Habib and Kaneesha about her knitting needles, while agents Ernie and Kumar politely let a group of men furtively looking over their shoulders pass through with passive waves.
Later in DC, some TSA executive wipes the drool off their chin after waking up at their $15,000 desk, yawns, and leaves for home after another day of being overpaid for totally incompetence.
Maybe TSA is where all the Bush adminstation economic advisors found jobs.
Sadly, there is not likely to be a quick fix anytime soon. We need to stop electing the same people over and over.
Why do we expect a different outcome when we keep doing it like we have always done it?
Posted by: TAS | May 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Hey, of course this is unnecessary nonsense. It's sole purpose is to generate revenue as a hidden tax (every airport needs a badge for which there will be a processing fee) for a government that recognizes it has out-of-control spending and no proper accountability. While the TSA is to blame in this instance, there really needs to be a complete overhaul of the government in DC. The states that decide to secede from the Union and return to sensible government with less social welfare and unlimited spending will benefit economically from the millions of hard-working people who will flock there so they can earn a decent living!!!
Posted by: A. Dayton | May 21, 2009 at 11:07 AM
If the idiots at TSA are so worried about the threat posed by us pilots, then do a background on us, put our photo on the license, and use that as our "badge" to move around airport property at any airport. I'll even pay the $100 to get it done! After that, quit coming up with these stupid, unenforceable rules.
Posted by: Bob | May 21, 2009 at 11:12 AM
My father and many other brave Americans fought for our freedoms in this country. Unfortunately this issue and many other issues in federal government disrespect and disgrace their service. The federal government is no longer by the people and for the people, it's littered with political hacks who are self serving. America use to be the greatest country on earth, I'm not so sure anymore.
Posted by: Tom Porta | May 21, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Has anyone in government read the dec. of independence lately? It pretty much outlines our feeling concerning the governments "policy". Read it, especially how much King George,s actions are mirrored by the present administration.
Posted by: C.K. Bondar | May 21, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I wonder how the TSA luminaries are going to handle visiting (badge less) pilots from Canada if/when we land at airports in the US (including points of entry) which have scheduled services.
I suppose nothing that seizing our aircraft or horrendous hefty fines couldn't cure......
The recent imposition of the eAPIS requirements and conditions for border crossing in an personal aircraft is, in my opinion, quite odious and will certainly not encourage visits to the US via personal aircraft -- especially from the likes of moi.
I can understand the need for border and airport security --- and I understand the meaning of common sense, which is, in my opinion, somewhat lacking within the US TSA and Homeland Security administrators as they fumble and bumble their way along implementing questionable policy.
Posted by: Canadian Pilot | May 21, 2009 at 11:30 AM
The TSA was a bad idea in the first place, eliminate it !
Tom Thunnell
Posted by: Tom Thunnell | May 21, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I have been flying since 1971 and have never seen so much poor decision making by our government. This is the first I have heard of this stupid rule. Our government is far to involved in our lives. We can not even get our votes counted with any degree of accuracy. General aviation as I have know it is disappearing. So sad, and the inmates are running the government.
Posted by: K.C. SMIT | May 21, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Why are there no congress men or women looking into this? Why do we sit by, read these articles and do nothing? Cause we are all a little too busy? I am contacting my congressman about this, and I suggest that everyone else who reads this do as well. We HAVE to keep the air free, other wise, we will be the last "General Aviation Generation" alive.
It appears to me that the FAA and the TSA feel that only professional pilots should be aloud to be airborne. It will be a sad enough day when I have to give up my license because I am too old, or ill, or what ever, but now, the Government will just revoke our license because we are not professionals for pay?
Posted by: Antonio | May 21, 2009 at 12:16 PM
I wrote Senator Saxby and Representative Kingston in Georgia about this TSA stupidity rule and the answer I recieved had absolutely no bearing what so ever on the problem with this TSA ruling. They did not address the subject at all,just said how much they supported GA.This is how our elected officials face the problems we have.
Posted by: Douglas Davis | May 21, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Hmmmm... This series of developments is reminiscent of another time and place (70-some years ago) when a government made a certain group of people wear badges and comply with absurd regulations as a means of ultimate total control. What enabled that to happen was good people standing by and letting it happen until it was too late...
Posted by: steve | May 21, 2009 at 12:45 PM
What's sad is there is going to be no such thing as simple flying. Where does TSA stop? Pretty soon they will require pilots to get a government hired flight coordinator to check ID's of pax and pilot's just to go for a sight seeing flight! Then you can say goodbye to charter because it is going to be such a pain to fly that nobody is going to want to screw around with the bs. No wonder it is so hard for the aviation industry to stay alive!!! It has got so much worse after 911, but let's remember that the first terrorist attempt on the trade towers was done with a rental truck in the basement. Why don't we have government background checks to rent trucks? Why does it all come down to aviation? I'm surprised they haven't put the cabash on EAA! I suppose that EVERYONE will need badges for that too!!!
Posted by: Parker Brooks | May 21, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Write your Congressmen and Senators and ask them to write DHS and postpone the badge rule.
We shouldn't need badges. Our licenses and photo ID should be enough.
If DHS pressures FAA to require photos, fingerprinting, and background checks on our licenses, I don't have a problem with that. I lost friends on 9/11 and I haven't forgotten that the threat still exists. But TSA patrolling the GA ramp?
Posted by: Dale Brown | May 21, 2009 at 01:00 PM
I worked with TSA at LAX before. Are they still hiring and employing felons, ex-cons and dregs of Los Angeles.
Posted by: CCC | May 21, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Its time to rename the USA, the USSA! Oh well, its seems we Canadians are no longer welcome in the US either, never mind having badges and such. And of course you will also have to seek emailed permission to leave your country as well. Its a shame the US used to be a friendly FREE country to visit I always felt welcome in the land of the free. I won't bother with the $27.50 CAD to get this years sticker to fly down. Of course we are not far behind you in Canada with loss of liberty, in 2010 we are pretty much grounded for two months due to the winter Olympics. It is estimated to cost GA in the Vancouver region millions of dollars....
Posted by: Gary Peare | May 21, 2009 at 01:48 PM
In the 8 years since "9/11" there has been ZERO instances where GA has been used to harm US citizens in a terrorist act. There was one Cessna that flew in from CANADA and landed in Missouri, but that pilot was trying to commit suicide. Looks to me like the GA community is doing a great job of securing and protecting themselves. The TSA is just taking a page out of the current administration's playbook of grabbing power while they can. Soon personal accomplishment, risk and reward will be gone. Didn't somebody rent a Ryder truck so many years ago and do something crazy? Still I can go rent one with no red tape what-so-ever. But I can't walk up to my own 1800lb airplane made of fabric?
It has to stop... it is unfortunate that our government leaders and the appointed heads of its many out crops are to dense to see that they are destroying what they have enjoyed and taken advantage of their entire lives. We will spend years digging out of this and the many other "over reaches" of our government.
Posted by: Shane M. | May 21, 2009 at 01:57 PM
No, no don't write you Representatives. Postal mail quarantined for awhile. Email is lost in the shuffle.
CALL THEM in DC and/or locally, 2 Senators and one Representative. Do it now. STOP TSA at large airport FBOs and at small airports (next) AND NO USER FEES to fly. AvGas tax works fine as is.
Posted by: Jim Messina | May 21, 2009 at 02:20 PM
It's in the interest of national security
Heil Hitler
Posted by: Heil Hitler | May 21, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Let's write to our new Messiah in the White House. I am sure he will find some answer on the teleprompter (if he doesn't stumble and stutter on it).
Now seriously, it is past due for us to contact ALL the representatives, local, state and federal. This kind of Soviet Union style persecution must stop at once. The only incentives the TSA employees have is to grow their agency, so they amassing more power to do it.
Just an idea, what if all general aviation pilots go on strike. That means no more bizjet flights for all the government jetsetters. Let's ground them all until they come to senses and fire TSA employees who are responsible for this gestapo-like tactics.
Keep in mind it is NOT TSA per se, it is TSA public servants (= employees paid by us, the taxpayers) who are responsible.
Posted by: Peter | May 21, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Civil disobedience. On June 1st why don't as many of us as possible, stroll onto the FBO ramps without IDs and enjoy the beautiful machines, take pictures, have videocameras ready-to-go for YouTube? Bush and his TSA strarted this. Let's send a message to the new adminstration to back off.
Posted by: Just Say No | May 21, 2009 at 02:42 PM
I believe that GA pilots can take care of their own security. We know what goes on around an airport so therefore we would know what might seem out of place. Use common sense and let’s not loose our freedoms! Whether big or small people fought and died to protect them.
Posted by: Steve | May 21, 2009 at 03:18 PM