Proposed regulations could take a year to approve

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking outlining its plans to impose new security requirements on corporate jets and their passengers. The agency’s so-called Large Aircraft Security Program would cover operators of general aviation aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds, mandating that they implement security programs that are subject to compliance audits by TSA staff. “The proposed regulation would also require operators to verify that passengers are not on the No Fly and/or Selectee portions of the federal government’s consolidated terrorist watch list,” TSA said. TSA apparently is concerned that private jets constitute a gap in aviation security that could be exploited by terrorists who might seek to turn the aircraft into flying bombs. The proposed rules would subject flight crews of private jets to get a background check, would demand matching of passenger names against watch lists, and would require aircraft operators to check planes for unauthorized persons on board, and for weapons. USA Today estimated that the proposed rules would cover some 15,000 corporate jets, and that they could take effect in the next year or two. It noted that unlike commercial airline passengers, those on corporate jets would not have to go through a physical screening process before boarding. You can see the full text of TSA’s proposed rulemaking at http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/nprm_lasp.pdf.