TSA Moving Ahead on Plan To Eliminate ASO Requirement

An effort to eliminate the armed security officer (ASO) requirement for business aircraft operations at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) took a step forward when the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) formally signed off on the plan. The industry-based ASAC unanimously agreed to support the plan during a meeting last month at the urging of the Transportation Security Administration. 

TSA officials highlighted the urgency of the ASAC approval, noting that with public awareness of the effort, ASAC support would help with interagency coordination, according to minutes of the meeting. The TSA is considering an outright elimination of the requirement, rather than an alternate to the requirement as had been discussed in past. Supporters of the effort note that the layered security programs and other measures already in place with the DCA Access Standard Security Plan provide a number of protections for flights into the airport. 

The plan still faces hurdles before it is finalized, including acceptance from other government agencies with security interests. In the past, the Secret Service has been cautious about accepting changes that would open access to the airport.