The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Quick Reaction Force conducts training of fast roping exercises in a joint effort with local law enforcement at the Advanced Training Center in Harper’s Ferry, W.V., in this 2012 photo. CBP has conducted a top-down review of general aviation law enforcement operations. James Tourtellotte Photo
The United States Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine (OAM) has carried out a “top-down review” examining the pilot certification process, policies and training practices for general aviation (GA) law enforcement operations. CBP published the review, “Domestic General Aviation Law Enforcement Operations,” on Oct. 1.
CBP commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske ordered the review following confirmation hearings earlier this year in the U.S. Senate and his subsequent appointment to lead the agency. “Detecting, investigating and interdicting GA aircraft that are being used in the commission of crimes is an important part of OAM’s mission,” noted Randolph Alles, assistant commissioner of OAM. “This review enabled OAM to examine policies and practices as they relate to interaction with the GA community, to include pilot certificate inspections,” he explained.
The review focused on five areas: Operation SKYLANE; law enforcement response and partner communication; basic and recurrent training; policies, practices and procedures; and external communication and public outreach.
Operation SKYLANE is the Riverside, Calif.-based Air and Marine Operation Center’s process for determining which GA aircraft to examine closer for illegal activity. Since fiscal year 2011, the number of GA aircraft “researched” for criminal activity has increased, while the number of times this research led to law enforcement contact has dropped, and the violation rate has improved. The OAM said this indicated it was improving its ability to distinguish between legitimate and illicit GA traffic. The review states that this is a result of a previously-introduced measure that requires agents and officers to log all contacts with the general aviation community, which “led to better research during Operation SKYLANE and decreased the likelihood of unwarranted repeat encounters with GA pilots.”
OAM said it has also increase its capability to use its own personnel and assets to conduct pilot certification inspections — checks of a pilot’s medical certificate, photo ID and pilot/airman certificate — by using more skilled agents, and seeks to improve communication, training and procedures. One of the elements of improved training, the review notes, is to correct a disproportionate focus on “criminal and worst-case scenarios,” with a need to shore up instruction in the subjects of pilot certificate inspections, law and CBP regulations also highlighted. The report recommends more scenario-based training and formal sessions as part of the enhanced focus on training.
Another area of improvement relates to OAM communicating more frequently and effectively with the public, including attending and hosting additional outreach events, as well as interactions with law enforcement agencies, the U.S. government and other groups.
CBP officials committed to monitoring “the impact of changes instituted as part of this review and, as appropriate, make future recommendations to address emerging issues,” according to the review. Part of this continuous update process involves collecting information from pilots about potential safety violations and crimes involving aircraft. OAM is asking pilots to report any suspicious activity to CBP’s dedicated phone line at 1-866-AIRBUST (247-2878).
