NATA contends that since most of the on-demand carriers do not have interactive capabilities with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the CBP will have to manually communicate their findings, further slowing the process. The CBP is more concerned with preventing high-risk boardings than making sure the charters get off the ground on time and stress their goal will be achieved. The proposal isnt something the CBP just dreamed up one night after watching a Law and Order marathon on TNT. In December 2004, congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, calling for the Department of Homeland Security to write a safety procedure to vet such possible terrorist risks.
Since current rules allow the operators to transmit information up to 15 minutes into the flight, high-risk pax may make it on board. Once discovered, the plane could be diverted or turned back, but that still means a potentially dangerous person is on the plane, possibly with nefarious intent and the explosives or weaponry necessary to carry it out. The CBP thinks advance vetting of passengers could eliminate the need for carriers to conduct “watch-list” screening of passengers. Comments on the proposal are due Aug. 14 and can be submitted via the online federal docket system – use docket number USCBP-2005-0003.
