Cargo operators expressed concern over draft programs recently released by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to implement new cargo security regulations, and their impact on small aircraft and airport operators.
The proposed programs are the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) and an associated document containing screening procedures for personnel and material. A final rule published in the Federal Register a few weeks ago governs security procedures for passenger and cargo aircraft; the TFSSP applies specifically to aircraft with maximum takeoff weights of more than 12,500 pounds up to about 100,000 pounds. (RAN, May 29, p. 1).
At a TSA-convened "listening session" in Los Angeles, Ameriflight's John Hazlet, FAR 135 Committee Chair for the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA), voiced concerns about the difficulty or impossibility of complying with some of the proposed provisions, especially for operators of small aircraft, at small rural airports and in certain types of international flying.
"Many features of these documents are simply unworkable for companies in our segment of the business, and we need to make our voices heard at TSA if we're going to succeed in getting them changed," said Hazlet.
RACCA members are not the only ones concerned about the proposed regulations. On-demand operators and charter companies also spoke out against the proposals, which were crafted with little participation of those segments of the cargo and passenger aviation industry. For the most part, the programs were based on those applicable to large cargo and passenger operators, and did not account for the unique characteristics of smaller operators. One operator indicated that TSA is now realizing the proposed regulations did not account for the diversity of passenger and cargo operators and is now trying to reach out to that segment of the industry.
Of greatest concern is the fact that the proposals require far more personnel, communications capabilities and infrastructure than is available at a lot of airports, many of which are not staffed full time -- and where sometimes, the only two people to show up at the airport all day are the UPS, DHL or FedEx driver and the landing pilot.
TSA is facing considerable pressure from Congress, according to Lon Siro, the agency's branch chief, charter and air cargo operations, who told the 50 representatives of passenger and air cargo operators his purpose was to gather information from this segment of the industry to refine the TFSSP and screening procedures into workable documents.
Transcripts for the listening sessions are available on TSA's TFSSP Web Board for those with access to it. RACCA is calling on members to file their concerns by the August 1 deadline. The agency hosted two more listening sessions in Miami and Newark and RACCA plans a mid-August meeting with TSA officials to offer assistance in reworking the proposals.
Copyright: The Regional Aviation News -- 8/01/06
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