Lawmakers question Washington-area air security measures

House lawmakers on Thursday questioned the effectiveness of federal air security measures in the nation's capital, especially an ongoing directive keeping Reagan Washington National Airport closed to general aviation.

The government should either reopen Reagan National to general aviation--the term for private flights other than those offered by large commercial airlines--or stop granting waivers to dignitaries to fly into the airport, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee told representatives of the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration at a hearing.

"This seems to add not one iota of security to the national capital region, yet it has cost the local economy millions of dollars and, unfortunately, hundreds of hard-working people have been put out of work," said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the aviation subcommittee, which held the hearing.

"I am outraged that VIPs, members of Congress, and other elected officials continue to receive special treatment under this process," he added. "If we cannot make it fair for everyone and secure, I want TSA, Homeland Security and FAA to stop granting waivers. If the private sector is going to suffer, then so should everyone else."

The airport, which sits next to the Pentagon and across the Potomac River from many government buildings, has been closed to general aviation since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Only private pilots who are granted waivers from TSA can fly into the airport. Mica released a chart showing that between Sept. 11, 2001, and June 30, 2004, TSA issued about 250 waivers for elected officials and former presidents to fly into the airport on private charter aircraft.

"I see no justifiable case for excluding general aviation at National Airport," said Rep. James Oberstar of Minnesota, the committee's ranking Democrat.

Jonathan Fleming, TSA's chief operating officer, told the committee that a plan to reopen general aviation is being reviewed within DHS.

"We must carefully balance the desire to reopen Reagan National Airport to [general aviation] with the need to protect our nation's capital against those who wish to do us harm," Fleming said.

The flight restriction has been maintained, he said, because the vast majority of general aviation planes do not have the same security measures as air carriers operating large aircraft. He added that the government, however, is not aware of any information regarding terrorist plans to use general aviation aircraft to strike targets in the nation's capital.

Lawmakers also expressed concern that agencies are not effectively coordinating air security in the nation's capital. They cited a June 9 incident in which a plane with a faulty transponder caused the evacuation of the U.S. Capitol during memorial services for former President Ronald Reagan. The plane turned out to be carrying Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

"We cannot have the Capitol evacuated and our offices evacuated as we did," said Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif. "That is just unacceptable; we can't operate that way."

Mica said the incident occurred "through a series of miscommunications, improper identification and tracking, lack of training, and the failure to adhere to proper security procedures."

"It is both alarming and unacceptable that in the two and a half years since Sept. 11, the federal and local agencies involved in air space control and security have still not resolved simple coordination, communication and training issues that were highlighted by the June 9 incident," he said.

Linda Schuessler, vice president for system operations services at the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, said problems that caused the glitch have been resolved.

"On behalf of the FAA, I regret that our agency contributed to the events that led to the unnecessary evacuation of the U.S. Capitol," she said. "We don't believe it can happen again."

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., questioned whether overall security protocols for the Washington area actually work. "We're providing the illusion of security," he said, "which will defend us against innocent [aircraft] but not against a determined terrorist."