drone airport

Congressmen Protest TSA Plan to Shoot Down Drones Near Airports

Two House members say the Department of Homeland Security does not have enough authority to deploy defense equipment to take down drones.

Facing a growing number of unauthorized drones flying near airports, the Transportation Security Administration wants to give air marshals the ability to use equipment from the Defense Department to take them down.

But two Republican congressmen are speaking out against the plan, sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security asking the agency to rethink the idea of empowering non-defense professionals to shoot down small aircraft, which often cause issues for pilots and passengers alike.

Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who serve as the top Republicans on the House Transportation and Homeland Security committees respectively, said the DHS plan is not within the scope of powers given to the DHS to counter drones, The Washington Post reported.

“While we share the goal of ensuring that our nation’s airports are not disrupted by negligent or nefarious [unmanned aircraft system] operations, DHS does not have the authority or the experience necessary to operate [counter-unmanned aircraft system] equipment in the manner proposed,” the congressmen wrote in a Nov. 14 letter to DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf.

In a statement, the pair said that the only federal agency that understands the complexity of the American flight system is the Federal Aviation Administration, deeming the TSA incapable of taking down drones without disrupting the system.

“Nobody wants drones to cause disruptions at our airports, but to hastily hand over authority to shoot down drones to an agency that doesn’t have the critical knowledge or experience of how our airspace system functions is irresponsible and dangerous,” Graves and Rogers said.

There is little information available about the weapons that the DHS is proposing to use against unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. The Post reported that at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this fall, the Secret Service and Coast Guard tested counter-drone technology. Officials said that the weapons would potentially detect radio signals, locate pilots or disrupt and disable drones.

In their letter to Wolf, Graves and Rogers added that the administration should indicate if another federal agency needs additional authority to address credible drone threats near airports.

“We welcome any discussion along those lines in order to keep our National Airspace System safe and our homeland secure,” they said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.