TSA proposes new airline security audits

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A new rule proposed Thursday by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is aimed at preventing a commercial airplane from being used as a weapon.

The TSA's proposed rule would mandate that all U.S. operators of aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds be subject to security compliance audits.

Officials say the compliance requirements include a verification that there are no passengers aboard an audited flight who appear on the federal no-fly list or on a terrorist watch-list. The audit also would check if flight crews had undergone a fingerprint-based criminal records check, among other security measures, the TSA reported.

The TSA submitted the rule request Thursday to the Federal Register. The new rule, if enacted, is part of what the TSA calls the Large Aircraft Security Program aimed at safeguarding commercial aircraft from being hijacked.

The number of aircraft included under the weight guidelines covers a large majority of the commercial airline industry. The average weight of the widely used Boeing 737 is well over 60,000 pounds when completely empty.

"General aviation operators are excellent security partners, and this will give them a strong common framework for security that will reduce risk while supporting the open nature of the general aviation industry," TSA Administrator Kip Hawley said in a statement.