Feds May Tighten Small Airport Security

The federal government is once again trying to increase security at airports -- this time targeting private airplanes and their passengers.

Just a few steps after getting out of their car, passengers are on their plane and within moments will be airborne. No hassle flying-if you can afford it.

But this may soon change. The Transportation Security Administration wants to extend to large private aircraft many of the rules it now puts on commercial aviation.

"What we want to do is create a baseline of security for larger general aviation aircraft. Aircraft that are large enough, fast enough to be used as a weapon," said Jon Allen of the TSA.

That would have a large impact on airports like DeKalb Peachtree where corporate and charter jets zip in and out day and night.

"This is not the time to be putting these economic burdens on companies that are having enough trouble as it is," said Dave Small of the Georgia Business Aviation Association.

Business groups are fighting the plans saying they would be too costly -- all at a time they simply can't afford it. They also say the rules are unnecessary. Most of their jets -- they insist – aren't targets for terrorists.

"If you were a terrorists you'd want a bigger bang. An airliner maybe -- but a small plane? We know our passengers day in and day out anyone invited on a private jet are not unknown, they are known to somebody," said Small.

The TSA plans would require flight crews of any plane -- 12, 500 pounds or larger -- to undergo background checks, passenger names be screened against the terrorist watchlist, and would ban some 80,000 items on private planes. This means some companies couldn't carry the products they make.

"One of the concerns is that as security is enhanced towards commercial aviation, we want to make sure general aviation doesn't become an attractive target," said Allen.