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As most of you know, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised and lowered the Country's Alert Level as the threats to the country change. Where does this leave General Aviation and specifically Buchanan Field and Byron Airports?
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the face of aviation security, at all levels, changed forever. With the formation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), aviation security continues to be defined and refined. The TSA has focused the majority of its time, energy and funding on the 546 commercial airline airports in the United States. Additionally, the TSA is expected to provide specific security direction to the 2,818 Reliever and General Aviation public-use airports in the near future.
Contra Costa County has been proactive in implementing various new security measures at both Buchanan Field and Byron Airports. Any specific security measures directed by the TSA will also be implemented, when provided. Additionally, Contra Costa County will be expending funds on new physical security measures and equipment in 2004.
The reality is that new security measures and requirements will be with us for the near and foreseeable future. We have a responsibility to protect all stakeholders, which may be yourself, your aircraft, your business, the
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community and this country.
In today's aviation world, we will need to make some cultural changes. Most of us were raised us to be courteous, kind and friendly to others. Access onto an airport once meant that if someone was behind us at a vehicle gate, we would let them follow behind us onto the airfield. We would also let someone have access onto the airfield if they stated that they had forgotten their key or access code. We would walk away from these interactions with a feeling that we had done a good deed for the day. Post September 11th, those days are gone. Today, access onto the airfield must be very different for obvious reasons.
A pilot's preflight should begin a little earlier then before. When driving to the airport give some thought to aviation security. Much like your aircraft preflight, if your gut doesn't feel right about something, investigate it further. If you feel it's appropriate, call 911, Airport Operations at (925) 646-5722 or use the AOPA/TSA National Hotline at 866-GASECUR (866-427-3287).
It is unlikely terrorism will touch Buchanan Field or Byron Airports, but if we keep up the vigilance, we may at least keep our neighbors' aircraft from being vandalized.
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