Contact: Dan Hubbard at (202) 783-9360 or dhubbard@nbaa.org
WASHINGTON, DC, October 18, 2005 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today applauded as President Bush signed into law a homeland security spending bill that includes language encouraging the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to move forward on development of the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC), a voluntary general aviation security program.
The TSAAC language was approved by the House earlier this year as part of a report accompanying the homeland security funding bill for fiscal year 2006. The text speaks favorably about the TSAAC program, encourages the TSA to move forward with its development and instructs the Agency to report back to Congress in January 2006 on plans to enhance or implement the TSAAC.
“TSAAC strikes the right balance between freedom of mobility and homeland security, and NBAA thanks leaders in Congress for recognizing its importance,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Now that the President has signed the homeland security spending bill into law, TSAAC will hopefully move a step closer to becoming reality for the business aviation community, and enhancing aviation security. NBAA will continue to work with members of Congress and federal security officials to move the program forward.”
In the years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, NBAA has worked with federal security officials to develop and test TSAAC, a voluntary pilot program with security procedures including corporate background checks on flight crew and ground crew personnel, screening/inspection of passengers and baggage, integration of pre-flight, in-flight, and ground-security programs, and utilization of threat intelligence. The TSAAC program is being tested with 24 business aviation operators at three New York-area general aviation airports.
In December of last year, the TSA endorsed the TSAAC initiative and committed to work with NBAA to further enhance and expand participation in the program. Since that time, NBAA has continued to promote the TSAAC program with Congress and the Administration.
# # #
Founded in 1947, NBAA serves more than 7,000 Member Companies by promoting the aviation interests of organizations utilizing business aircraft in the United States and worldwide. The association provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.