From The TSA’s OWN Website

Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP)
The Transportation Security Administration is developing a security program for GA operators to make them consistent with existing security programs for commercial aircraft of similar size.

In October 2008, TSA announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would strengthen the security of general aviation by further minimizing the vulnerability of aircraft being used as weapons or to transport dangerous people or materials. The proposed regulation would reduce the susceptibility of large aircraft misuse by individuals wishing to harm the U.S. and its citizens.

The LASP regulation proposes to require all U.S. operators of aircraft exceeding 12,500 pounds maximum take-off weight to implement security programs that would be subject to compliance audits by TSA.

The proposed regulation would also require operators to verify that passengers are not on the No-Fly portion of the federal government’s consolidated terrorist watch list.

The LASP will require currently unregulated general aviation operations over a specific weight threshold to adopt security measures, which would align these operations with those already regulated for security purposes.

TSA continues to enhance international and domestic general aviation security by developing a comprehensive strategy to:

•Establish baseline standards of security for general aviation operations
•Ensure that flight crews have undergone a fingerprint-based criminal history records checks check and terrorist name checks
•Designate security coordinators
•Conduct watch list matching of passengers through a TSA-approved watch list matching service provider
•Check/validate property on board for unauthorized persons and accessible weapons

All of the above is from the TSA’s own website (http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1240515540198.shtm). I don’t see anything about the “kinder, gentler” version DeLauter and others have been selling. This is still coming.

Right now it’s at the DHS and then to go to the OMB, finally out to the public for comment. Again. Expect a short period this time and be ready with the phone calls to your elected representatives. You can also call them now.

You might look at some of the other items on that link, like the FBO issue. Instead of walking into a breezy view of the flight line, it looks like you’re going to have to walk into a fortress, just to get to your private property parked out on the ramp.

Keep listening and watching, this fight ain’t over yet.