DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP)
Updated May 30, 2008
On July 19, 2005, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released an interim
final rule that allows certain general aviation aircraft to apply for access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
under the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP).
The TSA is allowing the following types of operations to apply for DCA Access:
- Operators under a partial security program approved by TSA under 49 CFR 1544.101(b), which operate aircraft with a passenger
seating configuration of 31 or more but 60 or fewer seats.
- Operators under a Private Charter Standard Security Program (PCSSP) approved
by the TSA under 49 CFR 1544.101(f), which operate aircraft with a passenger seating configuration of 61 or more seats
or a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 45,500 kg (101,309 pounds) or more.
- Operators in scheduled or charter service with a Twelve-Five Standard Security
Program (TFSSP) approved by TSA under 49 CFR 1544.101(d), which operate aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff
weight of greater than 12,500 pounds.
- Aircraft operated by corporations.
For the purposes of implementing this rule, TSA considers "aircraft operated by corporations" as any operation
using a paid flight crew, having an operations manual, and requiring recurring flight-crew training. Aircraft that are
owned by a corporation but operated by private persons will not be considered for the initial implementation phase of this
program. Scheduled and charter operations in aircraft not otherwise under a TSA security program, will not be considered
for the initial phase of this program.
After one year, TSA anticipates evaluating the feasibility of expanding the access program to include the following operations:
- Aircraft operated by private persons.
- Scheduled and charter operations in aircraft not otherwise required to be under security programs (maximum certificated
takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less).
NBAA has developed a fact sheet on the interim final rule on
access to DCA. The fact sheet outlines the requirements necessary for aircraft operators seeking to operate into or out
of DCA. NBAA will update this fact sheet as the TSA releases additional guidance.
For more information, visit the TSA web page about restoring GA access to DCA.
The Process
For the official process for approval to fly into DCA please review the interim final rule or visit the TSA's web site.
For aircraft operators to fly into and out of DCA, they must designate a security coordinator at their company and adopt
a DASSP. As part of the DASSP, they must ensure that all flight crewmembers have undergone a fingerprint-based criminal
history records check (CHRC).
Once aircraft operators have complied with those requirements, they will be eligible to apply to the FAA for a slot
reservation into DCA, and to TSA for authorization to operate specific flights into and out of DCA.
To receive TSA authorization for a flight, aircraft operators must do the following:
- Submit passenger and crew manifests 24 hours in advance of flight.
- Have name-based threat assessments conducted by TSA on their flight crewmembers and passengers on the flight.
- Carry an armed security officer (ASO) who also must have a threat assessment conducted by TSA, as well as specialized
training and authorization from TSA.
- Have their last point of departure from a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) that holds a security program issued by TSA at an
airport designated by TSA (referred to as a ‘‘gateway airport’’).
- Have the TSA inspect the aircraft and screen the passengers, carry-on property, and property carried in the cargo hold
of the aircraft, before it departs for DCA.
- Operate under instrument flight rules and comply with all applicable FAA rules, including those rules for operating
in the Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ).
- Pay any costs and fees required under the program, including a $15 threat assessment fee for each passenger and crewmember
whose information the aircraft operator submits to TSA as part of the flight approval process.
How To Request The DCA Access Standard Security Program
To receive the DASSP, an aircraft operator must contact TSA through TSA’s Office of Aviation Programs and request
the DASSP. Contact information is in the guidance documents and forms found below.
TSA will verify that the aircraft operator is a valid operator and then provide the aircraft operator with a nondisclosure
agreement that the aircraft operator must sign, as the DASSP contains sensitive security information (SSI) that must be
protected in accordance with TSA’s SSI regulation at 49 CFR Part 1520.
TSA then will provide the DASSP to the aircraft operator. Once the aircraft operator implements the requirements of the
DASSP, the aircraft operator must notify TSA. TSA will then inspect the aircraft operator to ensure that the program requirements
have been implemented in accordance with the DASSP.
Upon a satisfactory inspection, the aircraft operator will be eligible to apply to TSA for approval to operate flights
into and out of DCA in accordance with the requirements in the interim final rule.
Gateway Airports
Flights must be screened at and depart from one of the following gateway airports as the last point of departure prior
to arriving at DCA:
- BED, Laurence G Hanscom Field Airport, Bedford, MA
- BDL, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT
- BOS, Logan International Airport, Boston, MA
- CMH, Port Columbus International Airport, Columbus, OH
- DAL, Dallas Love Field Airport, Dallas, TX
- EWR, Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ
- HOU, Houston Hobby Airport, Houston, TX
- HPN, Westchester County Airport, White Plains, NY
- IAD, Dulles International Airport, Dulles, VA
- ISP, Long Island Mac Arthur Airport, Islip, NY
- LEX, Blue Grass Airport, Lexington, KY
- LGA, LaGuardia Airport, New York, NY
- MDW, Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago, IL
- MEM, Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN
- MKE, General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, WI
- MSP, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, MN
- PBI, Palm Beach International Airport,West Palm Beach, FL
- PHL, Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, PA
- SEA, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle,WA
- SFO, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA
- STL, Lambert St. Louis International Airport, St. Louis, MO
- STP, St. Paul Downtown Airport / Holman Field, St. Paul, MN
- TEB, Teterboro Airport, Teterboro, NJ
Forms and Guidance Material
The TSA has released the application process
and guidance material for aircraft operators, FBOs and armed security officers seeking or supporting access into DCA. NBAA
encourages all interested operators to download and review all relevant documentation before starting the application process.
For questions please contact NBAA's Operations Service Group at (202) 783-9250 or info@nbaa.org. Forms also are provided on the TSA's web site.
|
