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Results of Review
Houston Is Not a “Sitting Duck for Terrorism”
This review was initiated in part because of the television station’s
allegations. We reviewed the allegations and determined that they were
not compelling.
In each instance, the allegation of weak security was based on reporters
gaining access to airfields or aircraft. However, the reporters were
unaware of some passive security and monitoring measures. For example,
the airports had instituted security procedures, including 24-hour video
surveillance, locking or disabling grounded planes, and controlling fuel
access, which the television reporters did not test.
Combined, these airports service more than 440,000 aircraft takeoffs and
landings per year, and each routinely operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. The volume of legitimate activity would appear to limit
opportunities for unobserved loading or movement of aircraft. Moreover,
the issues identified by the television reporters were not violations of
GA guidelines or any federal aviation regulations.
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David Wayne
Hooks Airport
David Wayne Hooks Airport is the largest of the three airports
featured in the news story. It is privately owned and operated
as a for-profit enterprise. According to airport personnel, the
airport has two full-time security staff, an FAA tower operator
who provides visual surveillance, and 24-hour video
surveillance.
These security
measures have effectively deterred even petty vandalism. The
airport does not handle air cargo, and most planes are housed in
hangars, locked, or disabled when not in use. The jet that the
television reporters approached during the filming of their
report could not have been moved from the ramp without security
personnel noticing them tampering with the jet. |
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Figure 3.
Aerial
View of
David Wayne
Hooks
Airport |
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Figure 5. Aerial View
of Lone Star Executive Airport |
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Lone Star Executive Airport
At Lone Star Executive Airport, television reporters were able to drive
alongside a large, empty corporate jet on the tarmac. However, airport staff
stated that they have 24-hour surveillance using infrared and motion sensor
devices, and that security is enhanced because the Drug Enforcement Agency and
Texas Department of Public Safety base their own flight operations from the
airport. T
he airport regularly approaches people on the ramp, and had reported
several security incidents—including one involving a news crew seeking
unauthorized access—to TSA and
the local police. Local police have a constant presence at the airport. |
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David
Wayne
Hooks
Airport Location:
Spring,
Texas
Specialty:
Business
and military
aviation Products
and Services:
Fueling, ground
handling, passenger
services,
maintenance,
aircraft sales
and charter,
24-hour
operations Staff:
225 employees
Aircraft
Movements:
275,000
Sugar
Land
Regional
Airport
Location:
Sugar
Land,
Texas
Specialty:
Corporate business
travel
Products
and Services:
Fueling,
ground
handling, crew
services,
maintenance, luxury
terminal,
U.S. Customs
and Border
Protection inspection
Staff:
29 municipal
employees
Aircraft
Movements:
85,000
Lone
Star
Executive
Airport
Location:
Conroe,
Texas Specialty:
Private
aircraft,
military
operations
Products
and Services:
Fuel,
maintenance, flight
training, aircraft
rental,
aircraft tie-
down and
hangar
rentals, 24-hour
operations
Staff: 135
employees,
three full-service
private companies,
13 additional
aviation businesses
Aircraft
Movements:
80,000 |
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Figure
2. Houston
Airports
Visited |
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