TENANT IMPACT
NATA sees few surprises in the new Part 107/108
By John F. Infanger, Editorial Director
September 2001
Fixed base operations and other airport tenant companies that are in compliance with current airport security practices will find the new regulations reasonable. They key will be to stay involved with the overall security mission.
That’s the word from David Kennedy,
manager for government and industry affairs for the National Air Transportation
Association, which represents the interests of fixed base operators and
other aviation service companies.
"It does not appear the new regulations
require any major changes in how airports handle security in most general
aviation areas," explains Kennedy. "The new rule seems to codify
practices that are already in place at many facilities.
"Airports will be able to develop Airport
Tenant Security Programs (ATSP.) These plans will make FBOs responsible
for security in their areas of the facility."
The Airport Tenant Security Programs are
an opportunity for FBOs and others to become an integral part of the overall
security plan, according to Kennedy. "A lot of it will depend on
the particular airport management and how it approaches getting FBOs into
the program."
Following the release of Parts 107 and 108,
FAA is expected to release guidance documents that will assist airports
and tenants with compliance.
Says Kennedy, "We need to ensure that
we’re involved with the airport groups and FAA so that when they’re
addressing our types of facilities they will work for us from a practical
point of view.
"FAA must ensure the guidance documents
will give FBOs the flexibility to service their customers while still
playing their part in airport security. The implementation of these new
rules will rely on many of the details being clarified in the advisory
materials that are still being developed."
Kennedy says he is encouraged that vehicle
identification practices were not expanded beyond what is currently required
under Part 139. And, he says FBI fingerprinting processes for employment
verification facilitates the hiring process for tenant operations. "Overall,
I think it’s good that they are standardizing personal identification;
it will ensure implementation," he says.
