Congress has urged the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to address security gaps in public charter flight operations across the United States. The TSA is currently operating with several leadership positions unfilled following Donald Trump’s inauguration. Nick Langworthy, a Republican Congressman from New York, along with other members of Congress, has called on the TSA to ensure that Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 operators, known as public charter airlines, adhere to the same safety standards as scheduled commercial carriers.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced it would analyze changes to public charter security under the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP). Doug Carr of NBAA emphasized that while they cannot comment on classified TFSSP details, they aim to ensure new program requirements are feasible for diverse operations within the sector.
The congressional letter was addressed to Kristi Noem, newly confirmed Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. It highlighted vacant TSA positions after Trump removed former Administrator David Pekoske. The letter emphasized the need for immediate action on security vulnerabilities exploited by some Part 135 operators using loopholes in TSA protocols.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also plans actions against regulatory loopholes exploited by Part 135/Part 380 operators. These include potential rulemaking changes and exploring opportunities to align aircraft size and certification standards with regional community needs. Both FAA and TSA efforts are coordinated, focusing on enhancing safety and security measures for public charter flights.
