DHS Ups Private Aviation Security Rules

With just over 60 days before a new presidential administration takes power, the Department of Homeland Security is still taking measures to close gaps in security vulnerabilities it sees as an avenue of a possible attack.

The Department of Homeland Security has announced new security requirements for private aircraft and general aviation.

(Getty Images)

DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff today announced the department will soon require additional security information for all general aviation, including private aircraft, for international flights departing from and arriving into the United States.

The new security measures, which are already in place for all commercial aircraft, will require manifest data of all people (passengers and crew) on board private aircraft 60 minutes prior to departure of the aircraft, including flights originating overseas.

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Chertoff made the announcement in a speech before the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"We're placing considerable emphasis on raising security in the general aviation sector," Chertoff said. "By getting basic electronic information in advance, like we do with commercial aircraft, we are able to substantially reduce a vulnerability."

Chertoff said that, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection currently receives the manifest data when flights are en route to their destinations, the new rule will "provide more time to screen intelligence and databases."

Chertoff said the requirement will "ensure that no one on a no-fly list or other watchlist is on a general aviation flight."

In conjunction with this new rule, Chertoff also said today that Customs and Border Protection officers are close to approaching full radiation scanning of private air cargo and mail coming into the United States.