Peters Introduces Amendments to Strengthen Airport Security in Federal Aviation Administration Bill
Additional Peters Amendment Would Promote Small Business and Agricultural Viewpoints in FAA Drone Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced he is offering amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017 that will help strengthen safety for passengers and visitors outside of Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-screened areas in local airports, as well as ensure the views of academia, small business owners and farmers are represented as the FAA formulates future drone policies.
Peters announced two amendments that will allow airports to use existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds to update their security infrastructure to better protect the traveling public. Recent attacks at high-traffic airports in Ft. Lauderdale and Brussels outside of screened, secure areas, as well as a recent incident at Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan, have demonstrated a need to provide additional security for travelers.
“Airports are an essential part of our nation’s transportation system and it is vital to protect passengers and the public from increasingly complex security threats,” said Senator Peters. “Airports remain a common target for coordinated or lone wolf attacks, as we've seen in recent incidents in Brussels, Ft. Lauderdale, and just last week, in Flint. This commonsense legislation will give airports additional resources to strengthen their security in public areas, safeguard passengers and help protect against possible future attacks.”
“We applaud Senator Peters for taking the initiative to help airports address their security needs,” said Airports Council International – North America President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Airports face constant and evolving threats. With $100 billion in infrastructure needs over the next five years, this important bill will give airport operators across the country the funding flexibility they need to prioritize resources across a multitude of safety, security, and operational projects.”
“We appreciate Senator Peters’ innovative approach to address airport security challenges,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Joseph Nardone. “We are proud to collaborate with our federal partners to keep Detroit Metropolitan Airport safe. This bill would allow DTW and airports throughout the U.S. to accelerate the pace at which we’re enhancing our security protocols.”
Peters’ first amendment allows airports to spend the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) dollars they already collect on airport security infrastructure projects. Examples of PFC security infrastructure projects include adding perimeter fencing around an airport’s perimeter boundary, ballistic protective podiums to provide police officers protection from active shooters and to store patrol rifles to respond to a threat, and active shooter location technology so security personnel can quickly locate and pacify armed threats.
Peters’ second amendment, introduced with Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), would make Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds eligible for the installation of state of the art surveillance security cameras in public, non-screened areas of the interior and exterior of air terminals, such as baggage claims or pick up and drop off areas. Currently, airports can use AIP funds for installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) in secure, TSA-screened areas of an airport, but are restricted from using these funds in other public areas.
Peters also introduced an amendment that would promote the use of drones to support agricultural production by expanding the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) roster to include a wide range of stakeholders to provide a full and appropriate consideration of the issues raised by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations.
“We need a variety of voices at the table to address policies related to unmanned aircraft systems and ensure they are meeting the needs of businesses, government and the public alike,” said Senator Peters. “Expanding the Drone Advisory Committee to include more views will help encourage the use of these advanced technologies in broad range of applications from research and education to law enforcement and agriculture.”
The amendment directs the FAA to appoint additional members to the DAC, including at least six members from academia, at least three members from state and local government and at least three members from the broad spectrum of private and public property owners, such as those who use UAS for agricultural analyses.
