[JYO] Flying to NJ soon? Double locks required for stay longer than 24 hours..
- From: FlyboyEd@xxxxxxx
- To: jyo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 07:29:47 EST
from AOPA...
New Jersey to require double locks on all aircraft by Friday
AOPA seeks to change and clarify order
Mar. 24 — The New Jersey state attorney general ordered Friday (March 21)
that every aircraft that remains in the state more than 24 hours must have a
"two-lock system which secures or disables the aircraft to prevent operation
of the aircraft." <A
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030324nj_security.pdf">The
order</A>, issued by the New Jersey Domestic Security
Preparedness Task Force, becomes effective this Friday.
"We've been burning up the telephone wires to New Jersey since this order was
issued," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "While any aircraft owner certainly
wants to make it difficult for someone to steal his aircraft or the valuable
avionics inside, this order raises serious safety and economic concerns.
"It can be dangerous to put non-certified devices on certified aircraft. Some
devices can cause damage. Control locks have caused accidents, even when they
can be easily removed. The order will also have economic impacts, with many
locking devices costing up to $500.
"We are also concerned that the state is attempting to regulate what is
really a federal matter. We'll take this to the highest levels necessary."
Boyer criticized the lack of widespread public involvement in the order. He
noted that in a quick survey of some 100 New Jersey pilots, none knew about
order taking effect on Friday.
Since the order covers all general aviation aircraft, AOPA is working with
the National Business Aviation Association to push for changes. Many
corporate aircraft have only one lock, and prop locks aren't an option for
business jets.
Part of the issue is exactly what "two-lock system" really means. The New
Jersey Department of Transportation has <A
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030324letter.pdf">sent a
letter</A> to all of the state's
airports attempting to define that, but it raises even more questions.
For example, AOPA asked if door lock and magneto key (as is common for most
single-engine aircraft) meet the requirement. Or what about a locked aircraft
inside a locked hangar? The state hasn't yet provided a written response.
"We appreciate the state's security concerns, but we think they've issued
this order without thinking through all of the ramifications," said Boyer.
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