NBAA Letter to The New York Times

The New York Times
11/15/10
To the Editor:

Re “The Private Way Around the Checkpoints,” by Joe Sharkey (On the Road column, Business Day, Nov. 9):

There are a host of initiatives that ensure business aviation security – measures well understood by Transportation Security Administration officials.

For instance, general aviation pilots and aircraft owners are vetted against terrorist watch lists, and pilots are required to hold a tamper-proof ID issued by the government.

Foreign citizens seeking certain types of flight training in the United States undergo fingerprint-based background checks. An Airport Watch program, with a toll-free number, is in place for reporting suspicious activity to federal officials. The Treasury Department monitors the parties involved in aircraft buying and selling for security issues.

These and other measures have hardened business aviation against security threats. The industry will continue working with federal officials to evaluate further enhancements, and help the T.S.A. put scarce resources where they can be best utilized.

Doug Carr
Washington, Nov. 10, 2010

The writer is the vice president for safety, security and regulation at the National Business Aviation Association.

Another Letter Published in Response to The New York Times Column

The New York Times
11/15/10
To the Editor:

Initially I was rather frightened by the prospect of someone using a private plane in a terrorist plot. But then I realized that commercial airliners and private airliners are two very different matters.

If the government, as it proposes, expands the pool of private aircraft operators that would require security programs, what would be next?

We would be allowing the government to begin regulating a citizen’s use of a privately owned vehicle. If so, what is to stop officials from regulating what we carry in our cars on our daily commutes?

John S. Hale IV
New York, Nov. 9, 2010