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General Aviation Airport Voluntary Security Certification Program
The General Aviation Airport Voluntary Security Certification Program assists general aviation airport sponsors improve security and prevent unlawful activity at airports. This assistance includes providing sponsors with education, resources, and technical assistance to evaluate potential security threats; develop security plans to meet their specific needs; and improve upon existing security practices.
The goal of the program is to ensure that each airport achieves the appropriate level of security for its service role, physical characteristics, and operational characteristics without undue financial and administrative burdens being placed on sponsors. This program is restricted to sponsors of general aviation airports.
The General Aviation Airport Voluntary Security Certification Program is a voluntary program, offering an easy-to-complete process for certification as a “Secure Virginia Airport”. Sponsors are eligible to receive funds for security improvements through the Voluntary Security Program. Sponsors of certified airports receive project bonus points within the Commonwealth Aviation Fund project priority system.
Details on the certification process, security improvements, and CAF project bonus points are provided below.
Certification Process
For a general aviation airport to be certified as a “Secure Virginia Airport”, an initial security audit must be conducted by an outside agency; and a security plan must be prepared. The security audit and plan need to be approved by DOAV. To maintain the secure airport status, a sponsor must have an independent agency conduct a security audit every three years and must continue conducting semi-annual self-audits . Sponsors will update their security plan based on the findings of the audits. An airport can lose its certification as a “Secure Virginia Airport” if the independent audits and self-audits are not conducted and documented accordingly. When an airport loses this certification, bonus points cannot be received within the Commonwealth Aviation Fund project priority system. An airport sponsor must satisfactorily complete the delinquent audits to regain the airport’s certification.
Security Audits
The airport security audit will be the basis for determining the justification of requested security improvement projects. Airport sponsors should contact local law enforcement agencies; the Virginia State Police; or security specialists experienced with airport security to conduct an airport security audit. If possible, the individuals performing the audit should be familiar with operations at general aviation airports. The audit should address the entire boundary of the airport and issues found within the boundary. Issues associated with property beyond the airport boundaries may also be included in the audit. Security deficiencies and recommendations to mitigate these deficiencies must be identified in the audit. The independent audit should be conducted every three years. A template for these security audits is available from DOAV.
DOAV may attend security audits. In addition, DOAV will review audit results and provide comments to sponsors. DOAV reserves the right to review and approve the qualifications of outside individuals conducting security audits.
Security Plan
The airport security plan should address the operational procedures of the airport as they relate to security. In addition to daily procedures, the plan should also include procedures to address special events and closures. Elements that are recommended to be included in the plan can be obtained from DOAV, along with a plan template. A copy of the security audit may be included in the security plan to provide a listing of recommended improvements.
DOAV recommends that a sponsor establish a process to periodically review and update the plan. Plans must be updated by an airport to address changes, such as land acquisition and the construction of a new terminal building or hangar. To assist with reviewing and updating security plans, sponsors may consider establishing an airport security committee or formalizing coordination with local and state law enforcement agencies.
Along with providing sponsors with templates for the development of airport security plans, DOAV will provide technical assistance during the planning process. DOAV reserves the right to review and approve the qualification of organizations preparing airport security plans.
DOAV will review and approve an airport security plan for certification. When reviewing security plans, it will take into consideration:
- the size and complexity of an airport;
- an airport’s geographic location and topography;
- airport sponsorship;
- local financial support; and
- VATSP service role.
Semi-Annual Self-Audits
Security self-audits should be conducted every six months by the airport sponsor, using the formal checklist developed as part of the airport’s security plan. Sponsors must certify that the security self-audits are completed in accordance with their airport security plan. Documentation and results of the security self-audits must be sent to DOAV to receive credit for completion.
Form: Semi-Annual Security Self-Audit Checklist [JS: the usual link please]
Security Improvements
A variety of physical improvements can be made to increase the overall security of a general aviation airport. Examples of security improvements are provided in the table below. Airport sponsors will need to identify the most appropriate improvements for their airports based on the characteristics of the airport.
| Improvements | Eligibility Details | |||
| terminal area fencing | Terminal area fencing prevents individuals from having easy access to the flight line and other airport facilities, such as hangars, fueling systems, and navigational aid equipment. This fencing is limited to the terminal area and needs to be depicted on an airport’s airport layout plan. If economical, terminal area fencing should be connected to existing perimeter fencing. At a terminal building, the use of 500 feet of vinyl coated fencing is eligible. | |||
| perimeter fencing | Perimeter fencing controls access to airport property. Sponsors wanting to use such fencing need to prepare a fencing plan and depict the fencing on their approved airport layout plans. | |||
| electronically controlled entry gates | Electronically controlled entry gates control access to aprons and other airport facilities. To be eligible for state funding, a system must provide a means to regulate the distribution and collection of cards, passwords, or the like. | |||
| surveillance systems | External and internal surveillance systems monitor, record, and assist with control access to aprons and other airport facilities. The systems must provide a means to function in real time. | |||
| security signage |
Security signage identifies restricted and limited access areas and helps control movement on the airport. Signs should be legible and illuminated when necessary. The number of signs and the content should correspond to the size and complexity of the airport. Security signs include:
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| security lighting | Security lighting provides additional outside lighting in highly traveled and vulnerable areas of an airport. A lighting plan must be prepared, depicting the location and type of lighting requested. | |||
| security barriers |
Security barriers can be installed or berms can be constructed to protect:
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CAF Project Bonus Points
Sponsors of certified airports receive 15 bonus points to be applied to any eligible capital project request. To receive these 15 bonus points, an airport sponsor must satisfy the following elements to a degree that is based on the airport’s service role, location, and physical constraints:
- security audits conducted every three years by an outside agency;
- security plan developed and updated by the sponsor or an outside agency and approved by DOAV; and
- security self-audits conducted semi-annually by the sponsor using an approved checklist.
It is the sponsor’s responsibility to keep DOAV apprised of completed security improvements and to provide DOAV with documentation of semi-annual self-audits for the sponsor to receive the bonus points. The documentation must be provided to DOAV by the submission due date for capital project requests for the sponsor to receive the 15 bonus points.
If a sponsor fails to maintain the “Secure Virginia Airport” certification in accordance with this program, the sponsor will no longer receive bonus points for the priority scoring of capital project requests.