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Trump Sunsets Lockerbie-Era Security Committee

The advisory group was established in 1989.

Pan Am 103’s wreckage (Photo: Air Accident Investigation Branch, OGL 2 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Amid a flurry of regulatory shake-ups, President Donald Trump also plans to wind down a 36-year-old aviation security committee. The move comes after Transportation Security Administration head David Pekoske was ousted on Inauguration Day.

Established in 1989 following the Pan Am 103 bombing near Lockerbie, Scotland, the Aviation Security Advisory Committee was mandated by Congress. It was made up of key aviation industry stakeholders, including airlines and labor unions.

A group representing victims from the 1988 bombing were also members. According to its website, the committee “provides advice to the TSA administrator on aviation security matters, including the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, rulemaking, and security directives pertaining to aviation security.”

The committee was made permanent in December 2014 and meets around four times a year.

Per an Associated Press report, a memo was sent to committee members on Tuesday relieving them of their duties. The letter stated that the change was part of a “commitment to eliminating the misuse of resources and ensuring that DHS activities prioritize our national security.”

While the committee continues to exist on paper, it will have no members, the report said. All advisory committees within DHS are likely affected.

Pan Am flight 103 still remains one of the deadliest air disasters of all time. The bombing killed 270 people, 11 of which were on the ground in the Scottish town.

Ryan Ewing
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  • Ryan Ewing

    Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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