[JYO] CBS turns blind eye? AOPA expresses concern over network promo

Eventshttp://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2004/04-1-029x.html
CBS  turns blind eye? AOPA expresses concern over network promo

AOPA's Airport  Watch, in place at
thousands of GA airports, is one of
many actions taken  to ensure security. 
Jan. 14 — AOPA is expressing concern over a promo for  CBS's "Eye on America" 
series that implies general aviation airports are a  security threat. The 
promo, for a story that will air tonight on the CBS Evening  News, includes 
lines 
like, "You can fly in and leave anytime you like, there are  no restrictions 
... you heard right, no airport security!"
"This promotion is  irresponsible and creates a demonstrably false impression 
of general aviation,"  said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "And it appears CBS 
made up its mind without  benefit of all the facts; they never interviewed us, 
the people who know the  most about GA."
In fact, Boyer said, neither GA airports nor the small  aircraft they host 
represent a significant security threat. And the aviation  industry and the 
fderal government have worked cooperatively to improve  security. Most notable 
is 
AOPA's Airport Watch, a joint program with the  Transportation Security 
Administration that enlists the help of the nations'  550,000 GA pilots to 
watch for 
and report suspicious activities at  airports.
"We suggest that pilots register their concern over CBS's reporting  by 
e-mailing evening@xxxxxxxxxxx," said Boyer.
Boyer said that people should  think of general aviation aircraft as personal 
aircraft, used just like one uses  an automobile. And the security issues are 
very much different between a  400,000-pound airliner carrying 300 people out 
of a large airport versus a  2,400-pound GA aircraft carrying four people, 
all known to the pilot.
"GA  pilots know who is in the airplane, just like you know who is in your 
car," said  Boyer. "GA aircraft are a lousy terrorist weapon. Maybe that's why 
no one has  yet used a small aircraft for a terrorist attack anywhere in the 
world." As was  tragically demonstrated in Tampa, an aircrft that weighs less 
than a Honda  Civic just can't do much damage.
Pilots are well regulated by the federal  government. Every name on the pilot 
list is checked by TSA and other security  agencies. The government can 
immediately revoke a pilot's certificate if he or  she is deemed a security 
threat.
And, at AOPA's urging, the FAA developed a  new pilot certificate with 
security features that make it harder to forge. Since  the September 11 
attacks, the 
federal government has imposed regulations that  make foreign flight students 
go through a much more stringent review  process.
In December 2001, the aviation industry submitted a 12-point plan to  enhance 
GA security; the government eventually adopted most of those proposals.  In 
November 2003, a special GA committee presented new airport security  
guidelines to TSA for distribution as "best practices" to all airports. At the  
heart 
of guidelines is AOPA's Airport Watch.
"GA airports are secure.  Americans shouldn't feel threatened by our personal 
aircraft," aid Boyer.  "Shame on CBS for sowing fear simply to hype their 
newscast."
For more  information on security, see General Aviation and Homeland  
Security.
04-1-029x



©1995-2003 Aircraft Owners and Pilots  Association  

- - -
List admin: Ed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Web: www.leesburgpilots.com Previously sent 
messages (archives): http://www.freelists.org/archives/jyo/ To unsubscribe, 
send an e-mail to: jyo-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and type "unsubscribe" (without 
the quotes) in the Subject line of the email.  Tell your Leesburg Flying 
friends to subscribe by sending an e-mail to: jyo-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and put 
"subscribe" (without the quotes) in the Subject line of the email.

Other related posts: