Analysts warn of small-plane terrorism threat

The threat of terrorists using small planes to attack American targets does exist and requires immediate action by the government, according to a Washington think tank that is nearing completion of a study of general aviation's vulnerabilities.

''It's a threat that can't be ignored any longer," said David Heyman, the director of the homeland security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Heyman said the nonpartisan research group has been working with the federal government on the study this year to evaluate intelligence out of Pakistan that presents specific scenarios in which Al Qaeda has looked at using small planes and helicopters for attacks on American soil. He said this intelligence was actually discovered ''several years ago" but is now beginning to get attention.

''We've also heard threat warnings from [Homeland Security Secretary Tom] Ridge and the intelligence community about the interest of Al Qaeda to use general aviation assets for an attack," said Heyman. ''We need to consider the use of smaller aircraft in our threat analysis. There are legitimate scenarios which we need to be concerned about."

Phil Anderson, a senior associate at the center who specializes in homeland security issues, said the possible scenarios include situations in which Al Qaeda members could use a small aircraft, such as a single-engine, four-seat Cessna 172, to cause catastrophe. One potential target could be a stadium packed with tens of thousands of people.

''The no-fly zones over these stadiums are loosely enforced," said Anderson.

Despite concerns expressed about general aviation after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, there are still no safety restrictions on these smaller planes, no metal detectors or screening of luggage.

Anderson said terrorists could load a plane with explosives, add shrapnel and possibly chemical or biological materials, and then detonate a bomb inside a stadium.

''You just roll in low and go over the top of the rim of that stadium and you can slow it down to about 45 knots so it's very manageable, put it on the 50-yard line, and push the button," said Anderson.

Any stadium could be a potential target. ''Just look at the stadium where the Washington Redskins play," he said. FedEx Field, in Landover, Md., seats more than 90,000 people. ''There's a flight path that runs right by it and it's just right out there in the middle of an open area, crimson and gold, just the perfect target."

Another scenario presented by Anderson details how a terrorist could pack radiological material into a small aircraft, add several hundred pounds of explosives, and then target a stadium or other outdoor venue with a large crowd. ''You would have a radiological effect . . . like a dirty bomb," said Anderson.

Two weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved two injectable drugs to treat radiation exposure.

''The approval of these two drugs is another example of the FDA's readiness and commitment to protecting Americans against all terrorist threats," said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, the acting FDA commissioner.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, officials discussed improving security measures for general aviation, which accounts for 77 percent of domestic flights. But the Federal Aviation Administration said security rules for private and charter planes weighing less than 12,500 pounds were not changed.

''It just sort of died on the vine. It was too much of an impact on the general aviation industry to impose the restrictions they talked about imposing," said Jim Juras, a procedures specialist with the FAA. ''It would have cost too much to do this around the country, so it was dropped."

Mike Fierberg, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, said background checks of pilots and screening of passengers or baggage is still not required for small planes.

''You can just drive up to your plane, load it with whatever you want and be off in 15 minutes," said Fierberg. ''These planes aren't a focus for us. We take risk assessments and analyze that information and then focus the resources where the risks are higher. We don't have unlimited funds to deal with everything."

But Heyman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the intelligence from Pakistan shows these smaller planes are indeed at risk of being used by Al Qaeda in a terror attack.

''People need to take this seriously," Heyman said. ''The civil aviation and commercial aviation has been looked at, now we need to spend more time looking at general aviation."

Yet Heyman questions the timing of focusing on general aviation now, given that the Pakistan intelligence was collected several years ago.

''With helicopters, along with other types of general aviation planes, we've known about the threat for some time," Heyman said. ''Why weren't they taking it seriously earlier? It's a very serious question."

The center said it started working on its ''General Aviation Threat Vulnerability Study" in January and plans to release the results to the government by the end of next month.

Funding for the study came from many sources, including the private transportation industry, which has worked with the center on other research.