Reaffirming what many general aviation pilots already knew, a new report from the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general found that general aviation planes don’t pose a security risk and that GA airports are largely secure. The report, conducted at the request of a Texas congresswoman, directly refuted claims in a Houston television station’s report last year that three GA airports were not secure, making it easy for anyone to gain access to planes. The inspector general found that at those three airports, as well as at many other airports, the combined efforts of law enforcement and airport users serve to keep airports secure, often simply because airport users recognize when something is out of place. The report suggests that existing measures are sufficient, but acknowledges the recent opposition from many pilots over the Transportation Security Administration’s plans for GA pilots coming into larger airports to pass background checks. The inspector general’s report ducks taking a position on the expansion of the Large Aircraft Security Program, but notes that it “would push existing security efforts for the largest charter flights down to many smaller aircraft involved in corporate and private aviation.” The report does not make any recommendations to the TSA or other federal agencies.

When Yavuz Berke flew a Cessna Skyhawk from Canada into Wisconsin on April 6, officials quickly picked up his plane and scrambled fighters to intercept him as worries mounted that he might be a terrorist. But the fighters were never given permission to shoot down Berke’s plane, as officials soon learned from his girlfriend in Canada that he was suicidal, the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization reported. Berke flew south, past Madison, Wisc., and Chicago, before landing on a road in Missouri and fleeing to a nearby supermarket, where he was arrested after flying for more than four hours. FAA officials worked with their counterparts in Canada as the flight progressed to learn that while the plane had long-range fuel tanks, security cameras at his airport showed Berke didn’t take anything on the plane with him. When the FAA learned that Berke was suicidal, the fighters that had been following him gave him more space. Based on the flight’s path and range, officials were able to call ahead to controllers in airspace where the plane was likely to pass through, giving controllers time to clear other traffic out of the way.