General Aviation Security

Aircraft, Hangars, Fixed-Base Operations, Flight Schools, and Airports

Daniel J. Benny, Ph.D

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781466578890
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Management
• Index: Business

After 9/11, the initial focus from the U.S. government, media, and the public was on security at commercial airports and aboard commercial airlines. Soon, investigation revealed the hijackers had trained at flight schools operating out of general aviation airports, leading to a huge outcry by the media and within the government to mandate security

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General Aviation

GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT

General aviation aircraft are fixed-wing or rotary aircraft that are used for the private transport of individuals, company staff, or guests and cargo. These aircraft may be a general aviation aircraft such as a Cessna owned by an individual (Figure 1.1). They could also be general aviation aircraft rented as needed from a local general aviation airport for the pleasure of flying and to travel on weekends and holidays. General aviation aircraft also include aircraft utilized by corporations to transport staff, executives, and customers of the organization.

Aircraft are used by organizations such as power and water companies to conduct aviation security patrols. This allows the organization to cover large areas where power lines, pipelines, dams, and reservoirs are located. This allows for cost-effective security patrols of their property and facilities. Aircraft used in conjunction with this type of activity within the business or organization are also considered general aviation aircraft.

Local, state, and nonmilitary federal governmental agencies use general aviation aircraft for the transportation of staff and to carry out various missions of their respective organizations. These missions might include law enforcement and intelligence operations. They may comprise the use of aircraft for security or law enforcement patrols, aerial firefighting, emergency medical air ambulance service, and search-and-rescue operations. Governmental environmental agencies also use aircraft to monitor air quality and to conduct natural resource patrols to protect wildlife and the natural resources of the United States.

Figure 1.1 Author’s Cessna C-172 at Reigle Airport, Palmyra, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

Other uses of general aviation aircraft include private aircraft utilized for agricultural crop dusting. These aircraft provide a valuable service to ensure the quality of the nation’s food supply by spraying the crops with pesticides. They may also be used for insect control along rivers, lakes, and other waterways near populated areas of the United States.

Aircraft used for flight instruction are also considered general aviation aircraft. This would include use at private flight schools operating out of general aviation airports in all fifty states. It also covers institutions of higher learning, such as colleges and universities that offer flight training and college degrees in aviation.

Universities such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University operate an extensive fleet of aircraft for flight instruction out of their Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, campuses (Figure 1.2).

There are nonmilitary corporate aircraft used by the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, a nonmilitary congressional corporation. The Civil Air Patrol utilizes general aviation aircraft for one of their primary missions, national search and rescue for downed aircraft. Any aircraft that is reported missing or down is assigned to the Civil Air Patrol by the U.S. Air Force for the purpose of tracking, searching, and locating the missing aircraft. The Civil Air Patrol also operates a non-law enforcement counterdrug program. As part of its Homeland Security mission, the Civil Air Patrol provides the use of their corporate aircraft to local and federal law enforcement as surveillance and intelligence collection platforms to locate clandestine aircraft landing strips and drug-growing operations from the air. The aircraft take part in Homeland Security patrols as well as organ transport and the transportation of individuals during emergencies. The Civil Air Patrol aircraft are also used in its aerospace education mission. This includes orientation flights that originate from general aviation airports for Civil Air Patrol cadets (Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.2 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Cessna C-172s at the Daytona Beach, Florida, campus. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

There is another congressional, nonmilitary, corporate organization that uses general aviation aircraft. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is part of the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Coast Guard. The volunteer members of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary use their private general aviation aircraft to conduct search-and-rescue operations of navigable and costal waterways in the United States and on its coast. They also use their private aircraft to conduct Homeland Security patrols, support maritime port security operations, and make environmental patrols along waterways throughout the United States. The Coast Guard Auxiliary transports individuals related to official U.S. Coast Guard business. Auxiliary members who are certified pilots use their own general aviation fixed-wing aircraft for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary missions. These general aviation aircraft are based at general aviation airports.

Figure 1.3 Civil Air Patrol Pennsylvania wing aircraft Capital City Airport, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS

General aviation airports are airports used exclusively by general aviation aircraft (Figure 1.4). These airports do not offer commercial air carrier service. The airports may be privately owned by an individual, family, or corporation. The general aviation airport may also be owned by a governmental agency or governmental airport authority.

While there are no commercial airline operations at a general aviation airport, there may be general aviation aircraft operations at commercial airports. This may include an area of a commercial airport set aside for general aviation ground operations and support. This support could include a general aviation fixed-base operator (FBO), a general aviation hangar, and flight schools. All general aviation aircraft, fixed-base operations, and flight schools will be subject to the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration (FAA) security requirement when operating out of a commercial airport. The most common security requirements include positive security identification badging and access control around the general aviation operations area of the commercial airport. This book addresses security issues for general aviation aircraft, hangars, fixed-base operations, and flight schools operating from general aviation airports with no commercial operations.

Figure 1.4 Reigle Airport (58 N), Palmyra, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

Fixed-Base Operator

A fixed-base operator is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926. The FAA defines a fixed-base operator as a commercial aviation business that provides aeronautical services. These services might include fueling, hangars, tie-down space, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, a pilot shop, and other aviation-related services at a public use general aviation or commercial airport.

Figure 1.5 Fixed-base operator CXY Aviation at Capital City Airport, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

A fixed-base operator is a primary provider of support services to general aviation at public use general aviation airports and at commercial airports. In some cases, the fixed-base operator owns the airport and flight school. The fixed-base operator might just be contracted by the airport owners to provide aviation-related service to the general aviation airport owner, pilots, and aircraft owners based at the general aviation airport (Figure 1.5).

Flight Schools

Flight schools provide the training required for an individual to obtain a private pilot’s certificate. The pilot can then go on to obtain an instrument rating or more advanced aeronautical ratings. Flight schools are regulated by the FAA. A flight school can be a school certified by Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) Part 61 or Part 141, which refer to the parts of the FARs under which they operate. The most common distinction between the two is the minimum flight time required for the private certificate, 40 hours under Part 61 and 35 hours under Part 141.

The most significant difference between the two is the structure and accountability. Part 141 schools are periodically audited by the FAA and must have a detailed FAA-approved course of study. This course of study must be in writing and must meet student performance rates. Part 61 schools do not have the same paperwork and accountability requirements. Many flight schools at general aviation airports are only Part 61 schools. The flight school can be both if it so chooses as long as it meets requirements for both Part 61 and Part 141.

The flight school can be owned and operated by the airport or fixed-base operation. The flight school may also be a stand-alone business operating the flight school at a general aviation airport under a lease agreement with the owner of the airport or the fixed-base operator.

IMPORTANCE OF GENERAL AVIATION

General aviation is critical to the security, infrastructure, and economic success of the United States. It supports many aspects of society. This would include public safety, business, agriculture, commercial airports, aeronautical education, and many aspects of the aviation profession. General aviation also serves as a valuable recreational activity to thousands of general aviation pilots and aircraft owners who utilize general aviation airports and fixed-base operation facilities across the United States.

Public Safety

General aviation plays a critical role in public safety. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are used by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for a variety of missions (Figure 1.6). They are utilized for law enforcement patrols, Homeland Security operations, and traffic enforcement. General aviation aircraft and general aviation airports are used to support tactical and emergency law enforcement operations throughout the United States. General aviation aircraft are also used by law enforcement for search-and-rescue missions, counterdrug operations, and the transport of law enforcement officers and dignitaries in various situations and to counter or respond to terrorism.

Fire protection agencies utilize general aviation fixed-wing and rotary aircraft in firefighting. They are primarily used in rural areas to fight brush and forest fires where ground equipment cannot reach or when there is no access to water to extinguish the fire.

Figure 1.6 Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, Capital City Airport, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

They are also used to transport firefighters to rural areas to reach the fire line. Such aircraft can be utilized in urban areas in firefighting and for rescue from tall buildings. General aviation aircraft can also be used by the fire service to gather information on the fire operation and conduct damage assessment surveys.

Emergency medical services agencies and hospitals use helicopters for emergency medical evacuation operations. They are also used for critical transport for those already hospitalized but who need to be moved to another hospital for critical treatment in a timely manner.

General aviation aircraft are also used by the medical profession to transport donor organs that must reach the donor recipient in a judicious manner (Figure 1.7). General aviation can be used in areas where ground vehicles cannot reach the victim or when the victim must be transported to a specific hospital from the field based on the injury in an expedient manner.

Natural resources organizations tasked with the protection of the environment use both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. They are utilized for natural resource patrols to move personnel to remote areas during emergencies. Such aircraft are also used by these organizations for nonemergency situations to transport animals and for natural resource studies, tracking, and mapping.

Figure 1.7 Penn State Hershey Medical Center Life Lion helicopter, Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel J. Benny.)

Business

Organizations of all sizes use general aviation aircraft to operate and expand their business. Aircraft of all types, from a Cessna single-engine to a Citation jet aircraft, are used. Business enterprises also use helicopters in support of their commerce and for travel.

The aircraft may serve to carry executives and other company staff to attend meetings or trade shows or to travel to other company facilities. They are also used to transport possible customers to the corporate office or other meeting locations. The transport of company cargo and products is also a part of business aviation. Many businesses will locate their corporate office in an area that has a general aviation airport to facilitate corporate air travel needs.

Agriculture

The United States is the largest producer of safe food in the world. In part, this is due to the methods used to protect the agricultural products from pests. This is accomplished by general aviation in the form of agricultural spraying of the crops to ensure the proper growth and profit to the farmer. Because of the numerous acres of crops that need to be sprayed, it could only be accomplished in a cost-effective manner by general aviation aircraft for aerial spraying. These general aviation aircraft are based at general aviation airports around the United States to provide this service effectively to the farming community and the United States.

Economic Development

General aviation airports and aircraft contribute to the economic development of an area by attracting business...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• CONTENTS
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• 1 General Aviation
• 2 The Security Threat to General Aviation
• 3 Physical Security for the Aviation Environment
• 4 Airport/Corporate Aviation Security Force
• 5 Security of General Aviation Aircraft
• 6 Security of General Aviation Airports
• 7 Airport Safety
• 8 Emergency Response
• 9 Security of General Aviation Hangars
• 10 Security of Fixed-Base Operation
• 11 Security of the Flight School
• 12 Corporate Aviation Security Department
• 13 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Airport Watch
• 14 Transportation Security Administration Security Requirements and Recommendations for General Aviation
• 15 General Aviation Security Resources
• Appendix A: Global Terrorist Groups
• Appendix B: Sample General Aviation Airport Security Plan
• Appendix C: The Impact of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Airport Watch Program on Crime at Pennsylvania General Aviation Airports
• Index