Business Aviation at DCA:

No Longer An Operational Mystery

February 29. 2012

Lisa Piccione

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

NBAA

Short Historic Review

• Business Aviation

returns to DCA in

October, 2005

– 12 portal airports

– Daylight hours of

operation

– No flexibility in

adjusting to

operational realties

– 1-2 flights per week

Polling Question

• Which airports in the U.S. currently require slots for unscheduled

operations:

– DCA and LGA

– DCA Only

– DCA, LGA and ORD

4

Protecting GA Access to DCA

• DCA remains the only airport slot controlled by law in

the U.S.

• Through mid-2011, many GA slots went unused

• Most recent FAA reauthorization could have

reallocated GA’s daily slots, significantly reducing GA

access to DCA

• Without continued and growing use of DCA, next FAA

reauthorization could successfully reduce slots at

DCA for GA.

Kerwin Wilson

Acting General Manager

General Aviation Division

Transportation Security Administration

Airspace Coordination General Aviation Division

7

DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) – The Basics

Created in 2005 to restore access to GA operators to DCA

Program requires: Vetting of Security Coordinators and Flightcrew

Screening/search of PAX, baggage, and aircraft

Flight authorization processed by TSA HQ

FAA Slot Reservation

On board Armed Security Officer when passengers are present

Departure from an authorized FBO at a Gateway Airport

Airspace Coordination General Aviation Division

8

DASSP – Program History

2005 - DASSP program was initiated as an Interim Final Rule (IFR)

12 Gateways were established

2011 – Feb’ DASSP program management functions were transferred to TSNM-General Aviation

97 approved Aircraft Operators

45 approved FBO’s

Airspace Coordination General Aviation Division

9

DASSP – Program History

2/2011 – Present:

153 approved aircraft operators

104 approved FBO’s at 63 airports

Operations have increased avg. 50%

Program modifications

Flexibility to screening times

Flexibility to swap vetted crew

Flexibility to swap aircraft

Increased communications with TSA field

Increased coordination with other security and defense agencies

Airspace Coordination General Aviation Division

10

DASSP – Into the future

Focus for 2012

3rd Party Screening Pilot

Phase 2 – Operations by Private Persons

Further Program Management Refinements

Standardized Training

Increased use of the WebBoard

Quarterly Operator/FBO DASSP TelCons

Review of the ASO Requirement

Mary Miller

Vice President, Industry and Government Affairs

Signature Flight Support

Signature Flight Support

Why are more operators interested?

2010

Flexibility

Increased Hours of

Operation

Prohibited Items list

normalized

Increased Number

of Gateways

Polling Question

• When operating out of a gateway airport en-route to DCA, what

type of screening must passengers normally undergo?

– Visit the airline security checkpoint and proceed through TSA

screening

– Coordinate with TSA for screening at the FBO or other

approved departure location

– Passengers are not required to be screened by TSA before

departing for DCA.

13

Signature Flight Support

Gateway Trends

Signature Flight Support

Gateway Airports

2010

- Pending Gateways

Greg Kulis

Chairman, NBAA Security Council

Where to Begin?

• Name a security coordinator for

your operation

• Complete the “Aircraft Operator

Application”

• Complete the “Non-Disclosure

Agreement”

• Return both forms to TSA

Initial Contact with TSA

General Aviation DivisionTSNM

1

1: Jimmy Elmore

Phone: 571-227-5558

2: Will Ellis

Phone: 571-227-3991

3: Mike Petrone

Phone: 571-227-2170

4:Alfonso DiazDelCastillo

Phone: 571-227-2208

5: Bogdan Dzakovic

Phone: 571-227-1338

6: Lisa Borbe-Haught

Phone: 571-227-5466

7: Tony Tranumn

Phone: 571-227-2619

8: Juan Barnes

Phone: 571-227-3045

6

7

5

44

183

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•After reviewing web site materials and submitting

your application contact your local TSA Office

•Discuss your plans to become an approved DCA

Access Operator

•Local TSA will assign an inspector to your

operation- they can assist and expedite the process

Role of Local TSA Office

Implement DASSP

• Complete fingerprint based criminal history records

checks (CHRC) for flight crew

– www.natacompliance.com (DCA Access Link)

• FAA Records Check for Pilots

• Receive the DASSP program from TSA

• Implement program requirements

• Prepare for compliance inspection by TSA

Armed Security Officer Program

• Regulators negotiating the terms of the DASSP used the term

“Airline Equivalent Security”

• General aviation aircraft do not have hardened cockpit doors

• ASO Program was a negotiated compromise to prevent a flight

deck intrusion

• TSA does understand the difference in the risk profile between a

private aircraft with known passengers and a charter aircraft with

passenger unknown to the crew.

• Discussions have taken place to consider revisions to the ASO

requirement in the case of private aircraft with known passengers

Armed Security Officer Requirements

• Must be nominated by an approved DASSP Operator or FBO

• Administered by the Federal Air-Marshall Service (FAMS)

• Includes Background Checks, Training and Firearms Qualification

• Current Law- Enforcement Officer

– May be Federal, State or Local

• Retired Law-Enforcement Officer

• Former Law-Enforcement Officer

• Minimum of 4 years Full – Time Experience

• Must have completed a certificated law-enforcement training program by and approved Federal , State, or Local Agency

Polling Question

• When is an ASO required to be on board the aircraft for flights

to/from DCA?

– The ASO must be on board every flight to/from DCA

– The ASO is required to be on board flights carrying passengers

to/from DCA

– The ASO is only required if specifically requested by TSA for a

certain flight

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Armed Security Officer (Continued)

• ASO required for all flights into/out of DCA with

passenger on board

– ASO not required for crew only flights into/out of DCA to pick-

up/drop off passengers.

• Many approved operators have retired law-enforcement on

corporate security staff. ASO’s are often chosen from

current employees

• A person may not serve as both a pilot and ASO on the

same flight.

• Can operators obtain an ASO on a temporary/contract

basis?

Planning a Flight to DCA

• Reserve tentative slot with FAA up to 72 hours before

proposed operation

• TSA flight authorization can be requested at anytime

before flight

• Visit: http://www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs/index.html to request

a slot through the Computerized Voice Reservation

System (e-CVRS)

Request Flight Authorization

• Utilize the TSA/FAA Airspace Waiver & Access Program to

request DCA flight authorization.

• Provide information on aircraft, passenger and crew

• Application must be completed at least 24 hours before

departure time

– Passenger changes prohibited within 24 hours of departure time

– Previously vetted flight crew and aircraft changes can be made

within 24 hours

• Receive final authorization from TSA

• Visit: https://waiver.c3.faa.gov/ to request flight authorization

Gateway Airports

• Once flight is approved operator must contact gateway

airport and Signature DCA to notify them of flight

• Passengers/Aircraft will undergo screening by TSA at

gateway airport

• All flights must operate from approved gateway to

DCA No intermediate stops allowed

Helpful Hints

• All passenger names must be submitted on TSA Flight Application

at least 24 hours in advance.

– Include names of any passengers who “might” be going.

– You can always delete names but you cannot add within 24 hours

• Crew and aircraft changes can be made up to two-hours in

advance

• Back-up aircraft and crew can be included on trip request to cover

in the event of an aircraft mechanical or crew illness.

• Make confirmation phone calls yourself. TSA communication

break-downs sometimes occur.

• Contact local TSA office at departure gateway to confirm times

and availability of screeners.

Flight Plan Filing

• Flight Plans MUST be filed telephonically with the Leesburg

Flight Service Station FRZ Hotline at 1-866-225-7410.

• REMEMBER - Get the initials of the briefer you speak with at the

FSS.

• Once the crew and passengers have been cleared by TSA you

must call the National Capital Region Coordination Center at

703-563-3219 to advise them of your impending departure. This

alerts them to your entry into DC airspace. This call must be made

prior to departure from the Gateway airport or prior to departing

DCA.

• REMEMBER - Get the initials of the agent that you speak with at

the NCRCC.

For More Information

• NBAA Website:

http://www.nbaa.org/ops/security/programs/dassp/

• TSA Website:

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/tsnm/general_aviation/

programs_sp.shtm

• NBAA Operations Service Group:

– (202) 783-9250

– info@nbaa.org