This summer, Congress received a list of transportation security issues prepared by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. The report specifies road, rail, sea and air threats, including hazmat containers, passenger screening, and the possibility of shoulder-fired missiles targeting commercial flights. The report was issued in time to incorporate the London bombings earlier this year, though not the more recent threat involving liquid explosives.

Copies are available here as a PDF, though we’ve copied the section on private aviation below.

While some policymakers have expressed concern that security measures for general aviation aircraft are, in their estimation, weak and practically non-existent, general aviation operators have countered that they have been overburdened by unnecessary airspace and airport restrictions. General aviation restrictions are most prevalent in the Washington, DC area, where the city is encircled by a 15-mile radius flight restricted zone in which general aviation operations are significantly limited, and a larger air defense identification zone where pilots must strictly adhere to special air traffic control procedures. In August 2005, the DHS implemented a security plan permitting certain general aviation flights — mostly large charter and corporate operations — to resume at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) which is located at the center of the flight restricted area. At various times, flight restrictions have also been put in place over New York City, Chicago, and elsewhere. General aviation pilots have been restricted from flying over Disney and other theme parks, and over stadiums during major sporting events, leading some general aviation advocates to question whether special interests were using the umbrella of security concerns to curtail unwanted advertising overflights. Securing general aviation operations continues to be a significant challenge because of the diversity of operations, aircraft, and airports. Measures put in place thus far, such as the Airport Watch program and TSA’s general aviation security guidelines, rely heavily on the vigilance of the pilot community to detect and report suspicious activity. In the area of flight training, flight training providers are engaged in verifying citizenship or confirming that background checks IB10135 06-23-06 CRS-8 have been properly completed before providing training to foreign nationals. A provision in the Terrorism Prevention Act would allow aircraft leasing and charter companies to voluntarily provide the TSA with names of prospective customers for prescreening against the consolidated terrorist watchlist. Also, the FY2006 DHS appropriations act (P.L. 109-90) requires the DHS to assess security vulnerabilities from general aviation aircraft and identify steps that can be taken to enhance the security of general aviation aircraft and airports.

For private travelers, one way to contribute is to look around. The Airport Watch program mentioned above encourages pilots and GA airport workers to report suspicious activity. The program – based on the popular Neighborhood Watch program – is particularly useful at facilities that lack a substantive security infrastructure. As a separate Congressional report (PDF here) notes,

Of the 5,286 public use landing facilities in the United States, only about 500 have operating control owers and most of these are located at airports with regularly scheduled commercial service. Only the busiest airports that cater exclusively to GA aircraft have operating control towers. These airports usually are geographically large and congested making surveillance for security purposes from the tower difficult. What’s more, even at the limited number of GA airports with operating control towers, most towers are not operated on a continuous basis and close during late night and early morning hours.

The program was created in conjunction with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and is detailed here. The AOPA’s list of notable activity includes:

• Anyone trying to access an aircraft through force—without keys, using a crowbar or screwdriver.
• Anyone unfamiliar with aviation procedures trying to check out an aircraft.
• Anyone who misuses aviation lingo—or seems too eager to use all the lingo.
• People or groups determined to keep to themselves.
• Anyone who appears to be just loitering, with no specific reason for being there.
• Out-of-the-ordinary videotaping of aircraft or hangars
• Dangerous cargo or loads—explosives, chemicals, openly displayed weapons—being loaded into an aircraft.
• Anything that strikes you as wrong—listen to your gut instinct, and then follow through

If you note any suspicious behavior, call 1-866-GA-SECURE. For immediate threats, call local authorities at 911.