Senate Asks TSA to Drop Proposed Security Regulations on Smaller Aircraft, Rural Airports

JUNEAU – The Alaska Senate today unanimously passed a resolution (SR 6) requesting the Transportation Security Administration to drop consideration of a set of regulations that would have a devastating impact on cargo carriers, small commuter airlines, and general aviation in Alaska.

While the current security regime under TSA, referred to as a Large Aircraft Security Program, or LASP, covers airliners and large cargo carriers, the new rules would impose a similar regime to all airplanes with a gross take-off weight of more than 12,500 lbs. This would include such twin-engine aircraft as a King Air 350. There are approximately 100 aircraft currently in service in Alaska that would be covered by the regulations.

Among other things, the regulations would require pilots and mechanics to undergo criminal background checks; flights would have to receive approval from the TSA before take-off; pilots would have to check passengers against the TSA “no-fly” list; and TSA could require air marshals to be on board a flight. Every airport served by aircraft bigger than 12,500 lbs would be required to install security perimeter fences and have a security screener on site. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities operates about 260 airports across the state.

“The TSA estimates it will cost $190,000 per aircraft for compliance with these new regulations, more than 80 percent of which will be borne by the owner, and an average of $400,000 per airport,” said Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, the prime sponsor of SR 6. “It will simply mean many currently viable businesses will park their airplanes and go out of business.”

“This regulation cannot go into effect without some exception to avoid the devastating impacts it will have on rural Alaska,” said co-sponsor Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin. “Just as rural Alaska was changed forever with the arrival of the airplane in the 1920s, so, too, will it be changed forever if air service goes away under this TSA rule.”

The regulations have a deadline for comment on Friday, February 27.

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