Rules to Be Set for Small Planes at National

The Transportation Security Administration plans to lay out security rules today that would allow corporate jets and small charter aircraft to return to Reagan National Airport, aviation and government officials said yesterday.

Congress has required the TSA to develop a security plan to allow the small planes back at National. Aviation and Homeland Security officials said the TSA plans to announce an interim final rule today that will outline security requirements for private aircraft landing at National.

Officials said they hope corporate jets will be able to return to National by this fall, ending a ban put in place on Sept. 11, 2001. The timing is uncertain because some details -- such as how much in security fees should be paid by the plane operators -- have not been determined, officials familiar with the plan said.

Under the proposal, private jets would be allowed to land and take off from National Airport if they abide by a strict list of security rules that would include having an armed law enforcement officer aboard each plane and putting passengers and luggage through security screening at one of a dozen designated airports before heading to National.

The proposal surprised some officials and executives in the aviation community who feared the deal was dead because of two recent breaches of the restricted airspace by small private planes. The proposal faces opposition from some divisions of the Department of Homeland Security and from agencies in charge of securing Washington's restricted airspace.

"Agencies involved in securing the airspace have significant issues with the return of general aviation to National Airport," said one official whose agency is in charge of protecting the area.