…Suspicion At GA Airports…

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At small GA fields, fences have gone up, airplanes are locked and tethered, and strangers are eyed with a critical air. AOPA, working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), developed an Airport Watch program, encouraging pilots to report any “unusual” activity. On Monday, the TSA issued an advisory encouraging the aviation community to remain vigilant. Pilots are expected to show photo identification on request, and charter passengers are subject to scrutiny. The FAA’s new airman certificates come with enhanced “security features.” For now, the TSA seems content with the situation. “Our approach is to apply the minimum amount of regulation that’s appropriate for the level of risk,” Pamela Hamilton, director of aviation initiatives for the TSA, told the Denver Post recently. “Our hope is to put a federal stamp of approval on the industry recommendations,” she continued. “We don’t think it’s necessary at this point to make these mandatory.” Besides AOPA’s Airport Watch program, the National Business Aviation Association has developed a set of “best practices” for business aviation.

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