The TSA continues to make progress on a recommendation to eliminate the armed security officer (ASO) requirement for business aircraft flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, but the proposal is still being coordinated both within the agency and externally, the agency said.
TSA officials last month briefed industry leaders on a range of security initiatives during a closed-door session of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC). According to the minutes of that meeting, the TSA has “worked with other government agencies to obtain the necessary concurrences and is also in the process of briefing the issue to the new TSA Administrator.” Peter Neffenger has headed the TSA since July 4.
In February the ASAC recommended that TSA eliminate the ASO altogether. That recommendation came at the behest of the agency, which had asked the ASAC to act quickly on the measure to help with interagency coordination.
In addition to the ASO requirement, the TSA is in final review of updates to the "Security Guidelines for General Aviation Operators and Users" document before issuance to the general aviation community. The updates are expected to reflect changes in security guidance and programs that have occurred over the past decade. The ASAC also discussed potential revisions to screening requirements of foreign national flight training candidates. Discussions of the revisions have been ongoing since last month. The ASAC is set to meet next month.