Schumer: Drunken Teenager's Air Escapade Reveals New York Airspace Rules Still Leave City At Risk To Terrorism

SCHUMER: DRUNKEN TEENAGER'S AIR ESCAPADE REVEALS NEW YORK AIRSPACE RULES STILL LEAVE CITY AT RISK TO TERRORISM

New York Air Traffic Controllers Still Do Not Require Flight Plans for Planes that Fly Below 2000 Feet and Has No Way of Monitoring Them

Senator Calls on FAA/DHS to Beef up Security Protocol for General Aviation

Schumer: "If a Drunken 20 Year Old Can Steal Planes for Joy Rides Undetected, Imagine the Harm a Terrorist Could Inflict Upon Us."

Earlier this week, a drunk 20 year-old stole a small plane in Connecticut and went for a joyride with two friends for three hours before landing the plane at Westchester County Airport, exposing a serious vulnerability in aviation security. Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed that despite the efforts to upgrade the nation's commercial air security after 9/11, general aviation rules for small planes and helicopters traveling over New York City have not been significantly upgraded over the last ten years. This leaves gaps in the city's security and leaves security officials and air traffic controllers with no real way of knowing for sure if a plane or helicopter has veered off course and is heading to a potential terrorist target - a sharp contrast to upgrades that have been successfully implemented in Washington, DC.

Today Schumer asked that the Federal Aviation Administration tighten security measures for general aviation. Schumer also called on Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff to revise, update and implement outdated security rules governing small general aviation airports.

"There's an old saying that 'forewarned is forearmed', and that's exactly why we haven't suffered any major foreign terrorist attacks on US soil since 9/11 - because we found out in time to stop them," Schumer said. "The fact that we operate the same way that we did 10 years ago, and that we don't give Air Traffic Controllers the tools they need to know if a private plane veers off course and is headed to a terrorist target, boggles the mind."

Aviation regulations in the United States generally divide the airspace above populated land into two halves - that above 2,000 feet and that below 2,000 feet. The airspace above 2,000 feet is tightly controlled with all aircraft having to file detailed flight plans before takeoff and requirements they have functioning transponders in use that broadcast a signal so authorities can identify each aircraft. Under 2,000 feet, neither of these rules is in place, even for larger private planes like a Gulfstream V, which can weigh as much as 91,000 pounds, approximately the same weight as a DC-6 airliner.

Despite the efforts to upgrade the nation's commercial air security after 9/11, General Aviation rules which apply to private planes and helicopters traveling over New York City have not been significantly upgraded over the last ten years. Over most of the city, all that a pilot has to do as long he or she stays below 2,000 feet is obtain routine permission from air traffic controllers.
Under this routine, which is called "Route Permission," a pilot only has to radio ground control as he or she approaches New York City and relay the intent to travel over the area. No detailed flight plans are required. Because Air Traffic Control does not actively monitor small planes as they fly over New York City, they are unable to easily determine if a pilot has left his or her course as part of a deliberate attack on a building, a bridge, or an area with a high density of people in it.

Today Schumer noted that unlike New York City, the airspace over Washington, DC is closed to most General Aviation. On May 11, a single engine Cessna carrying two Pennsylvania men violated the airspace restriction in Washington DC effectively shutting down all three branches of the Federal government. Their plane was immediately intercepted by a Homeland Security Black Hawk helicopter and three jets. Schumer does not propose closing New York City to general aviation, but questioned today whether there would have been such an immediate response had an unidentified plane headed toward a major landmark in New York City.

Last year during the Republican National Convention the FAA had plans to tighten the rules and procedures in New York for general aviation, at that time, Schumer called on the FAA to make those new rules and procedures permanent. Today, nearly one year after Schumer's original call for more stringent security monitoring, he renewed his call for federal officials to make critical changes in the security infrastructure.

"Another year of inaction is simply unacceptable. If there is one thing we learned this week it's that we are still very vulnerable," Schumer said.

Schumer's suggestions include:

Require low-flying aircraft to submit a flight plan to the FAA before entering NYC airspace. As detailed above, General Aviation and helicopter flights currently need only radio Air Traffic Control before they enter New York City and maintain transponder contact with the ground.

Create a "frequent-flyer" permanent waiver for known pilots and aircraft like news and traffic helicopters. Schumer said a new waiver system has to be developed to allow commercial pilots who regularly fly over the City as often as several times a day for purposes like news or traffic reporting, sightseeing tours, or passenger charter flights to do their jobs.

Close the Hudson River approach permanently. After September 11, the FAA closed an approach over the Hudson River where general aviation low-flying aircraft could fly into New York without contact with local controllers. This route has since been reopened. Schumer called on the FAA to keep it permanently closed.

Tighten Security at small general aviation airports. Specifically Schumer asked Chertoff to impose regulations requiring double locks, closed circuit TV cameras, and perimeter fencing at all major general aviation airports.

According to the GAO, general aviation accounts for three quarters of all aircraft that take off and land in the US. There are 19,000 general aviation airports nationwide.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR41743.Airspace.062605.html