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TSA Is Using a
Threat-Based Approach to General Aviation Security
TSA analyzes credible intelligence information to determine and prioritize the
existing threats. The Office of Intelligence, which has primary responsibility
for assessing potential terrorist threats, has conducted an extensive evaluation
of threats that would affect or involve the GA industry.9 OI has identified
several organizations that have shown an interest in using GA to obtain flight
training or to launch attacks, and OI continues to monitor reports of activity
by these organizations. OI also assesses how aircraft, ranging from helicopters
to large aircraft, might be used to launch an attack, including how a terrorist
might gain access and what damage could be inflicted. In addition to foreign
terrorist organizations, OI assesses the potential of less traditional threats,
such as narcotics traffickers and domestic terrorist groups targeting jets of
specific corporations.
Although OI has identified potential threats, it has concluded that most GA
aircraft are too light to inflict significant damage, and has not identified
specific imminent threats from GA aircraft. OI has also concluded that there is
no credible threat of crop-dusting aircraft being used to spread chemical or
biological agents. However, OI noted that various intelligence sources have
identified helicopters as aircraft of ongoing interest to terrorists. OI also
stated that the potential for a terrorist group to use GA aircraft to conduct an
attack remains a possibility that cannot be ignored.
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