Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole on Monday launched two major enhancements to general aviation security. “If You See Something, Say Something” national campaign was launched by the general aviation component of the DHS on Monday, as well as a streamlined system for vetting passengers and crew on general aviation aircraft entering and exiting the United States through a single, Department-wide process.
The “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats and emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities. The campaign was originally implemented by New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority and funded partially by $13 million from DHS' Transit Security Grant Program.
The campaign represents the second major expansion of the program since July 1, when Secretary Napolitano announced the initiative’s first phase, for Amtrak. In the coming months, DHS will continue to expand the campaign nationally with public education materials, advertisements and other outreach tools to continue engaging travelers, businesses, community organizations and public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play an active role in keeping the country safe.
“This new component of ‘If You See Something, Say Something’ will enable general aviation passengers and crew to better recognize and report behaviors and indicators associated with new and evolving threats,” said Secretary Napolitano. “We are also transitioning to a streamlined system for vetting travelerts on general aviation flights to and from the United States to provide a single, electronic screening process while maintaining robust security standards.”
As part of the campaign, DHS is asking the public to report suspicious general aviation activity to TSA’s hotline at 1-866-GA-SECURE. In addition, DHS will streamline the process for pre-screening passengers and crews entering and exiting the United States on general aviation aircraft by allowing pilots and operators of general aviation flights to submit a single manifest to the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System, which is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) online tool for submitting general aviation data. The streamlined system is expected to take effect on the first of September.
“As we saw in the Times Square attempted bombing, the public plays a key role in security,” said Administrator Pistole. “We ask that general aviation pilots and community members join us in helping to keep general aviation secure through ‘If You See Something, Say Something’ and by helping to develop new programs and initiatives, such as our new streamlined vetting system for international general aviation travel.”
“Security has always been a top priority for the business aviation community, and these two new security enhancements reflect an understanding of how our industry operates, and also how government and industry can enhance security without sacrificing mobility,” said National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank the TSA and DHS for working with industry on these measures, which will be fully effective and workable as a result of our collaboration.”