NBAA praised House passage yesterday of a bill that calls for a series of enhancements to general aviation and charter security that are designed to take a more risk-based approach. Sponsored by Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), the bill, Securing General Aviation and Commercial Air Carrier Service Act of 2017 (H.R.3669), is intended to highlight general aviation issues that often get lower priority on a national level, according to report language accompanying the bill.

“General aviation and commercial charter air carriers represent a small fraction of the TSA's stakeholder community, often causing their issues and concerns to fall to the bottom of the agency's priorities,” according to the report language. “This bill seeks to elevate some of these important, but often overlooked, security issues.”

Specifically, the bill calls on the Transportation Security Administration to study the feasibility of establishing a web-based Secure Flight passenger screening system for charter operators; develop an implementation plan for general aviation recommendations approved by the Aviation Security Advisory Council; and report on the feasibility of threat assessments for all candidates seeking training for aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. Additionally, the bill would authorize the TSA to provide screening services for charter operators in areas other than passenger terminals, as well as appoint a full-time employee who handles only general aviation and charter issues .

NBAA praised passage of the bill. “We applaud Rep. Estes for introducing this important legislation, which would provide much-needed streamlining of security for general aviation and commercial charter air carriers,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “The bill would offer more flexibility to general aviation and charter operators, while also increasing security.”

The report notes that unlike the commercial airlines that connect to TSA’s Secure Flight system, passenger vetting at charters is often conducted through emails, presenting potential security risks for the associated data. Charter operators typically don’t have the volume to support the costs of connecting with Secure Flight. Under the measure in the bill, TSA would explore a web-based option to provide operators with real-time passenger vetting information in a secured environment.

As for passenger screening, charters currently must conduct their own screening or hire private companies. But sometimes screening agents aren’t available on short notice. The bill is designed to provide flexibility to access TSA screeners that are requested through the airport.

Meanwhile, the Aviation Security Advisory Committee has looked at several improvements to general aviation and commercial charter air carrier programs. But the TSA has yet to implement them, the report language said. The bill further seeks to address the lack of a full-time “subject matter expert” at TSA to interact with the general aviation community, the report language said. As for the flight-training measure, the report specifies the vetting should focus on initial training of covered individuals.

The House approved the bill by voice vote and it heads next to the Senate for consideration.