U.S. security officials on Monday unveiled simpler procedures for clearing private planes to fly out of, and into the United States, allowing them to submit a single document for review against government watch-lists. After the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, U.S. authorities expressed concerns about gaps in security for flights by private planes as well as commercial flights. There are over 100 so-called general aviation flights entering and departing the United States daily. Authorities check the passenger and crew lists for people who are on a U.S. government security list, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Under the simplified process, which is set to start on September 1, pilots and private plane operators will be able to submit a single manifest of passengers for international flights to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency, TSA said. Previously they had to submit them to TSA as well. "We are encouraged to see TSA and CBP collaborating to streamline the process for our members and eliminate unnecessary paperwork and redundant procedures," said Craig Fuller, head of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. In 2008, operators of international flights using private planes to and from the United States were ordered to submit in advance their passenger and crew lists before departure.
