Federal Register: August 28, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 167)
DOCID: FR Doc 02-21977
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Security Administration
Docket ID: [Docket No. TSA-2002-12394]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Security Program for Certain Private Charter Operations
DATES: Comments may be submitted to TSA from August 30 through September 30, 2002.
Security program compliance date: December 1, 2002.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This notice establishes dates for submission of comments on and implementation of a security program for operators of aircraft engaged in private charter passenger operations with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 95,000 pounds or more.
SUMMARY:
Private charter operations; security program; comment request,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
On June 19, 2002, TSA published a no-notice final rule in the Federal Register (67 FR 41635) that, in part, requires new security measures for private charter passenger operators using aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 95,000 pounds or more. Under the rule, these operators must adopt and carry out a security program approved by TSA to address passenger and accessible property screening. As published, the effective date of the rule is August 19, 2002, and this document does not change that effective date. For the reasons explained below, it is now necessary to establish a comment period for the proposed program and a date on which affected operators must implement the approved security program.
Security programs constitute sensitive security information (SSI), which can be disclosed only to persons with a need to know, in accordance with 49 CFR part 1520. Therefore, the private charter security program will be distributed for comment only to the affected operators.
Since publication of the rule in June, TSA has received comments and inquiries concerning passenger and accessible property screening on private charter operations. The commenters state that there are a variety of unique characteristics among passenger charter operations that make typical passenger and property screening in an airport terminal difficult or impracticable. For instance, some charters must depart at odd hours when airport terminals are closed. Some charters transport passengers with medical conditions that require equipment that would not be permitted aboard the cabin of a non2 charter passenger aircraft. Many charters depart from remote locations where screening checkpoints do not exist.
As a result of these comments, TSA will develop a final security
program that accommodates the unique characteristics of charter
operations and effectively addresses aviation security. Additional time
is needed to adequately assess alternative programs and many charter
operators will need time to establish appropriate internal screening
procedures. The affected operators may comment on TSA's proposed
security program from August 30 through September 30, 2002. TSA will
review all comments received, revise the program as needed, and issue
the final security program on or before October 30, 2002. The affected
charter operators will have 30 days, until December 1, 2002, to implement the final security program.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 21, 2002.
J.M. Loy,
Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Security.
[FR Doc. 0221977 Filed 82702; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 491062P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Nouri Larbi, telephone (202) 267-8543, facsimile (202) 2675359, email nouri.larbi@faa.gov.