WASHINGTON - In a move to further
balance security and the needs of the
aviation community, the U.S. Department
of Transportation’s Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) is issuing revised
rules that provide a readily available,
low-cost way for pilots to carry
acceptable photo identification when
flying. FAA Administrator Marion C.
Blakey announced the new rules today at
a conference sponsored by the Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in
Palm Springs, Calif.

The new regulations also require pilots
to present that ID when requested by
the FAA, Transportation Security
Administration (TSA), National
Transportation Safety Board or any law
enforcement officer. Both rules are
effective immediately.

The FAA expects the most commonly used
photo ID will be a valid driver`s
license issued by a U.S. state, the
District of Columbia, or a U.S.
territory or possession. The agency
based its rule changes on a petition
submitted by AOPA last February. AOPA
suggested that a valid driver`s license
would be an immediate, cost-effective
solution to address security concerns
about pilot identity in the general
aviation community. The organization
also proposed that pilots be required
to present photo identification on
demand.

Other suitable forms of identification
under the new rules are a valid federal
or state ID card, a U.S. armed forces`
ID, credentials that authorize access
to airport secure areas, or other
identification that the FAA accepts.
The rules published today were
developed in response to provisions
contained in the Aviation and
Transportation Security Act (ATSA),
enacted in Nov. 2001.

The TSA requested immediate adoption of
these rules to help prevent hazards to
aircraft, persons and property within
the United States, and the FAA agreed.
The TSA has issued other regulatory
documents that became effective
immediately to minimize security
threats and potential security
vulnerabilities. The FAA has issued the
new rule changes without prior notice
and public comment for the same reason.

The new regulations can be viewed by
clicking on the “Recently Published
Documents” link at
http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm

An electronic version of this news
release is available via the
World Wide Web at
http://www.faa.gov/apa/press.cfm

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