Rules governing private planes entering U.S. tightened

Many security holes have been plugged since 9/11, but remains flagrantly open: Private aviation. DHS is set to do something about it by announcing new aviation security rules aimed at preventing terrorists from using private airplanes to sneak into the United States. DHS secretary Michael Chertoff described the lack of tighter security for private planes as a major gap. He said his department is “working to plug that threat.” The new DHS rules require private pilots coming from overseas to give the United States the names, birth dates, and other information about passengers one hour before takeoff. Pilots must provide the information now, but not until they are close to landing. The new rule, which follows a similar one set to take effect for commercial planes in February, will give customs agents time to check names against terrorist watch lists before flights take off on their way to the United States.

USA Today’s Mimi Hall writes that the renewed focus on private planes follows six years of efforts to tighten security for commercial airliners. That effort has included putting air marshals on flights, making cockpit doors impregnable, and screening passengers and bags for explosives. DHS spokesman Russ Knocke said there was “no information indicating a specific or imminent threat” from private planes. Security experts, however, have warned for years that more should be done to screen private passengers. Planes coming from overseas are now required to land at U.S. airports where customs officials can search them and screen passengers. Chertoff said he hopes that someday a system will be in place physically to screen passengers overseas before they board.

As expected, organizations representing owners and pilots of small planes are not exactly delighted with the new rules. Andy Cebula of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said the association has no problem with pilots providing the names, but he objected to rules by DHS that require the names be sent electronically to the United States so they can be checked. Some foreign airports do not have the capability to transmit the electronic information, Cebula said.