Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) May 13, 2014 -- The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) applauds the extension of the Known Crewmember® Program to Part 135 and Part 125 Air Charter pilots with the first nonscheduled airline use of KCM at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) today. Known Crewmember® (KCM) is a risk-based screening system that enables Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officers to positively verify the identity and employment status of flight crewmembers. The program, developed by Airlines for America (A4A) and the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), expedites flight crewmember access to sterile areas of airports, reduces passenger-screening line congestion, enhances security, and makes airport checkpoint screening more efficient for all who depend on air transportation.

Although the KCM program expansion was announced in March, today’s KCM operations at IAD represent the first use of KCM by Air Charter pilots. TSA used the past several weeks to train TSA officers to positively identify the new badge that will be used by Air Charter pilots, verify the NATA Compliance Services (NATACS) program management system, and approve the first group of enrollees.

“NATA thanks the TSA for expanding this risk-based security measure to include qualified Part 135 and Part 125 crewmembers,” said NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks. “KCM has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of airport checkpoint screening not only for KCM users but also the traveling public as a whole.”

“Airline crewmembers participating in KCM have proven the program to be an effective, method of risk-based screening,” said Michael Sundheim, chief executive officer of NATACS. “By leveraging the vetting processes already in place for qualified crewmembers, TSA officers, KCM participants, and all other travelers will benefit from the efficiencies produced by this program.”

“We are pleased to expand the KCM program to include members of the Air Charter Community and look forward to a continued partnership with TSA, ALPA and NATA on this risk-based screening program that improves safety and security while benefitting passengers and crewmembers,” said A4A President and CEO Nick Calio. “The expansion of risk-based security programs like KCM is making travel more efficient for U.S. airline passengers and employees.”

Additional information and applications for the program for air charter crewmembers can be submitted at https://www.natacs.aero.

Access high resolution photo of program principals here and a photo of launch participants here.

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NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies. For more information about NATA, please visit http://www.nata.aero, http://www.twitter.com/nataaero or http://www.facebook.com/nataaero.

Michael Sundheim, NATA Compliance Services, http://info.natacs.aero, +1 703-728-1336, Michael@natacs.aero