Collaboration is critical to the nation’s efforts to secure and safeguard our skies, said Art Macias, chief of staff for the TSA in remarks earlier today to the ACI-NA/AAAE Spring Legislative Conference.
He noted that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano met recently with the leadership of both ACI-NA and AAAE to ensure that airports are involved in the development and implementation of TSA policies. Macias said they have formed a “working group” to improve and maintain open communications.
In addition, Macias said the department is working with the ACI-NA In-Depth Security Review Task Force to reduce inefficiencies by scrapping or revamping security directives that may no longer be needed or are in conflict with other directives. The fourth meeting of the group will be later this month in Orlando, he said.
In response to questions, Macias said that the funding to install 300 full body scanners this year will pay for some airport modifications needed to accommodate the new equipment. However, TSA won’t fund major capital improvement that could be needed to facilitate the installation.
As part of the ongoing review of security standards for general aviation, Macias said the recent targeted crash in Austin by a small plane into an IRS facility will be reviewed. “We are certainly studying that incident with the Homeland Security Institute for lessons that can be learned and how to keep the skies safe as we write that rule,” he said.