New TSA General Aviation General Manager Brian Delauter Photo courtesy of Transportation Security Administration
I don't need to go over general/business aviation's history with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The relationship between TSA and the industry has been rocky due to unpopular initiatives including the Large Aircraft Security Proposal (LASP), the Operation Playbook spot check program involving fixed-base operations at commercial airports and the security directive calling for badging and background checks for personnel with access to secure areas of commercial airports.
And that relationship hasn't helped with a virtual revolving door of acting general managers for GA. Last week, TSA named named Brian Delauter as its permanent general manager for general aviation. He was named acting manager back in July, replacing Juan Barnes, who was named to the job in March.
Delauter joined TSA in 2002 as a stakeholder liaison. He was most recently was assistant federal security director at Savannah International Airport. His aviation career began as a flight instructor at Elgin Air Force Base, and he has 15 years of experience as a general aviation and commercial airline pilot.
Strengthening outreach, communication and stakeholder involvement with the general aviation community are among his goals to improve relations with the GA community, said spokesperson Jon Allen.
Delauter’s top three priorities are to improve communications with stakeholders, come to a resolution on LASP and to remove waiver requirements for international arrivals, said Allen. “He has already held multiple meetings with stakeholders and stakeholder groups,” he added.
I am 100% sure that all the business and general aviation associations will be watching what Delauter does with great interest. Watch this space!
