[JYO] Yes, Virginia, There Is GA Security

from AvWeb...
- - - 
_Yes, Virginia, There Is GA  Security_
Audit, Planning Money Budgeted...

 It seems like lots of people talk about GA security but the state of  
Virginia is actually doing something about it. The state legislature is  
expected to 
pass $1.5 million in funding for a statewide audit of security  planning and 
procedures at each of the 59 airports it certifies. Now, $1.5  million 
wouldn't cover the cost of a single baggage scanner at a major  airport, but 
Charles 
Mcfarlane, Virginia's director of aviation, said the  budget will go a long 
way toward implementing basic security measures at GA  airports. "What's not 
appropriate is doing nothing," he said. Mcfarlane added  that the measures must 
be kept in context with the level of risk. "I don't  think the primary threat 
is a general aviation airport. But even a remote  possibility that an airplane 
could be used in an attack suggests we should  have minimum standards." He 
noted that many small airports in Virginia are  only a few minutes of flying 
time 
from Washington, D.C. If the worst does  happen, he said, the public would 
have the rght to ask if the state had done  anything to prevent it. 
_....Lights, Cameras,  Fences_

 The Virginia plan (assuming the General Assembly  includes the money in its 
final budget) will be first to assess what, if any,  security measures are in 
place at each of the airports. Even the smallest  facilities will be checked. 
Macfarlane said each facility will be asked to  develop a security plan and 
document procedures. For many, the audit will  reveal the need to spend some 
money on equipment and facilities. Macfarlane  said proper fencing, 
identification systems, lighting and cameras are the most  likely items to be 
installed at 
smaller airports. It's not clear whether part  of the $1.5 million will be 
used to help the small airports finance these  improvements but it seems likely 
that most of the cost will be borne locally.  Chesterfield County Airport has 
already implemented its plan and beefed up its  security infrastructure.

Other related posts: