Story ID: 
Bizav Not Affected by TSA's Large-electronics Ban
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: According to Flight Service Bureau, private and charter flights on business aircraft are exempt from the TSA directive.
Word Count: 239
The U.S. TSA’s ban on electronic devices larger than a smartphone in the passenger cabin on flights from 10 Middle East and Northern Africa airports to the U.S. does not affect private or charter flights on business aircraft, according to Flight Service Bureau. “Closed-charter flights where passengers are known to each other are a much lower risk, and a small aircraft with 10 people on board falls outside the primary target threat area,” the flight-planning company noted.

NBAA said it has spoken with government officials, "And we do not believe the ban applies to general aviation." As a precaution, NBAA's International Operations Committee has asked FBOs located at affected airports to advise if it appears that the new requirement is having any impact on business aviation.

On Tuesday, the TSA notified nine airlines about the ban, which affects departures from Queen Alia, Cairo, Ataturk, King Abdul-Aziz, King Khalid, Kuwait Mohammed V, Hamad, Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airports starting Saturday . According to a TSA Q&A page, the large-electronic ban on flights will “remain in place until the threat changes.”

Flight Service Bureau said that intelligence showed “credible evidence” of a development of a bomb hidden in portable electronics. “Two additional American officials, speaking anonymously, said the explosives were designed to be hidden in laptop batteries,” it added. The TSA also warned, “Terrorist groups continue to target aviation interests.”