DCA Bizav Flights Might Lose Armed Officer Requirement

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is working on a way to eliminate the requirement for an armed security officer (ASO) to be aboard all business aviation flights to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, NBAA vice president of regulatory and international affairs Doug Carr said during the "business aviation hot topics" seminar at the 2015 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in San Jose, Calif. “For many of you that has been a huge source of frustration,” he told the audience. “If we were able to get rid of the ‘guy with the gun,’ how many of you would participate in the program? The TSA is actively working on removing the requirement in its entirety, not just creating an alternative for it," Carr said. “We’re working through a couple of advisory groups that the TSA has wanted to get involved in the program.” These include the Aviation Security Advisory Committee and a special Washington, D.C.-focused government interagency group, he explained. “I have assurances from the airport and from the FBO at the airport [Signature Flight Support] that there’s lots of space and lots of capacity. So we look forward to seeing you in Washington once we’re able to get rid of that ASO requirement.”