PROPOSED AMENDMENT PLACES MAJOR RESTRICTIONS ON GA


February 27, 2004 - EAA is encouraging its members to contact their
congressional representatives to express their concern about a proposed
amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HR 3798) that would place
additional restrictions on general aviation beyond what has been deemed
prudent and effective by the Transportation Security Administration and the
Department of Homeland Security.
On February 11, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) proposed the amendment
titled "Secure Existing Aviation Loopholes." In addition to many
restrictions on commercial operation, the Bill proposes the following
restrictions on general aviation:

No-Fly Zones - The Secretary of Homeland Security-

(1) shall establish for the duration of any high threat level
announced by the Secretary (including announcements of code orange or
above), and

(2) may establish for the duration of any other threat level that is
announced by the Secretary and that the Secretary determines appropriate,
no-fly zones around sensitive nuclear facilities, chemical facilities
identified by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency at
which a release of the facility's hazardous materials could threaten the
health of more than 1,000,000 people, and any other facilities the Secretary
may designate.

(b) Vulnerability Assessments - The Secretary shall-

(1) require the operators of airports that serve general aviation
aircraft and landing facilities for such aircraft to complete vulnerability
assessments developed by the Secretary for evaluation of the physical
security of such airports and facilities and of procedures, infrastructure,
and resources used with respect to such airports and facilities; and

(2) develop a plan for addressing vulnerabilities identified by such
assessments not later than the 365th day following the date of enactment of
this Act.

(c) Sensitive Nuclear Facility - In this section, the term 'sensitive
nuclear facility' means-

(1) a commercial nuclear power plant and associated spent fuel
storage facility;

(2) a decommissioned nuclear power plant and associated spent fuel
storage facility;

(3) a category I fuel cycle facility;

(4) a gaseous diffusion plant; and

(5) a Department of Energy nuclear weapons materials production,
processing, storage, or research facility.

"The Transportation Security Administration and the FAA have assessed,
and continue to do so, the security risks general aviation poses and are
taking the appropriate actions," said Earl Lawrence, EAA vice president of
regulatory & industry affairs. "Mandated no-fly zones will not improve
national security, nor will mandatory vulnerability assessments."

General aviation organizations have been working continuously with the
TSA to develop GA airport security guidelines since the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks. "Let the TSA and industry develop these guidelines before
imposing new restrictive federal laws on an already heavily regulated
industry," Lawrence said.

The Bill has been referred to the Congressional Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways
and Means for consideration.

Co-sponsors of the bill include Rep. Ed Case, (D-HI); Rep. John
Conyers, Jr., (D-MI) Rep. Norman Dicks, D-WA; Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY;
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY; Rep. Major Owens, D-NY; and Rep. Louise McIntosh
Slaughter, D-NY.

To find contact information for your representative, visit
www.house.gov.



--
Christopher J. Campbell
World Famous Flight Instructor
Port Orchard, WA


If you go around beating the Bush, don't complain if you rile the animals.