Aug. 10, 2015
The NBAA Security Council is developing new resources to help Member Companies manage technology security threats and educate aviation department personnel on these concerns, including privacy issues raised by ADS-B equipage and other new technologies.
“The Security Council acknowledges the potential threats associated with the use of some avionics and other technology, and will be developing best practices for use of technology in aviation departments,” said Sarah Wolf, a certified aviation manager who is NBAA’s senior manager of security and facilitation. “Included in these threats are potential loss of privacy, laser attacks and even possible hacking of aircraft avionics.”
The council plans to update NBAA’s Best Practices for Business Aviation Security and the NBAA Management Guide to include new guidance on how business aircraft operators can address these emerging threats.
For many years, the Security Council has focused on ensuring business aviation has fair access to airspace during temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), especially those associated with movements of VIPs. Wolf said this would continue to be a priority for the Security Council, which hopes to increase business aviation access to airspace during TFRs by leveraging existing security initiatives such as Global Entry or the DCA Access Standard Security Program.
“VIP TFRs become a more significant issue during election seasons, especially during presidential elections,” noted Wolf, who is staff liaison to the Security Council. “NBAA and the council will continue to work with regulators so that aircraft operators have reasonable notice of impending TFRs. We also will seek to limit the duration of onerous TFRs and help ensure business aviation operations are not unduly restricted.”
In addition to revised guidance materials and airspace access advocacy, the council will provide members with new security-related training materials and other resources. Members with suggestions for topics to be covered by the council’s work should contact Wolf at swolf@nbaa.org.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.