On a Visit to Meacham Field in Ft. Worth ...

... a surprise inspection from TSA. I had a bit of extra time on my way to do a story on Texas Aviation Services (which will appear in the February issue of AIRPORT BUSINESS), and stopped to visit Reed Pigman, long-time owner of Texas Jet and the current chairman of the National Air Transportation Association. As we chatted about the state of his FBO business, which is strong, Reed intimated that there was a surprise group of visitors on their way to his facility. Sure enough, several minutes later a team of TSA inspectors shows up on the ramp. Turns out they’re part of TSA’s VIPR squad. The Visual Intermodal Protection and Response teams are, according to TSA’s website, part of a stepped up effort to enhance security on rail and mass transit systems – and, apparently, general aviation airports. After Reed gave the TSA folks a quick tour of his operation, they left. Just looking to see what’s what, he relates. He also says he welcomes TSA’s initiative to get a better understanding of how general aviation service companies operate. If nothing else, it allows them to see first-hand how secure many of these facilities already are. A subsequent call to Eric Byer at NATA got a similar response. Eric echoes Reed’s assertion that having TSA better understand GA operations is a good thing. He also explains that TSA sees this as helping them prepare for “big events†like the Super Bowl, political conventions, and the like. And he relates that while TSA shows up at operations unannounced, they do first contact the airport sponsor to get the OK to do it. “It’s strictly voluntary,†he says. He also added: “TSA avoided the press on this.†Interestingly, Reed at Texas Jet told me the same thing – that he had been instructed specifically not to inform the press of the inspection. (He smiled and said, “Hey, what can I do when you just happen to show up at the right time?â€) A logical journalistic response would be to contact TSA directly for comment. No need. TSA operates in a mode of telling the media as little as it can get away with. And, it seems that the more you know about the aviation industry and airports (i.e. trade press), the less they want to talk to you. The overriding message here is that GA operators can expect more scrutiny from the security agency in the months ahead. Exactly where that will lead is anybody’s guess. Thanks for reading. jfi