Preserve records of airport law-enforcement actions and response times

Treat this document as a focused evidence review: Preserve records of airport law-enforcement actions and response times. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting.

Source fact:

The official 49 CFR 1542.221 — Airport Security from Transportation Security Administration via eCFR supports the following bounded statements:

• Under 49 CFR 1542, the rule requires that each airport operator ensure that a record is made of each law enforcement action taken in furtherance of this part. The research record locates this support at 49 CFR 1542.221(a)(1), read with 49 CFR 1542.221(a) (eCFR anchor p-1542.221(a)(1)).
• Under 49 CFR 1542, the rule requires that data developed in response to paragraph (a) of this section include at least the following, except as authorized by TSA: the number of bomb threats received, real and simulated bombs found, and actual detonations on the airport. The research record locates this support at 49 CFR 1542.221(b)(3), read with 49 CFR 1542.221(b) (eCFR anchor p-1542.221(b)(3)).

Keep the evidence boundary at these traced claims. They support a review of access control, video, intrusion detection, communications, supporting facilities, operators, and documented response paths; they do not support conclusions outside the source’s stated conditions.

What the source does not establish

Applies only to airport operators, tenants, personnel, and areas covered by 49 CFR part 1542 and the cited section. Confirm the TSA-approved security program and current directives; this is not legal advice or a universal access-control standard. Do not read the source as proof of implementation or permission to change production. Its guidance remains conditional on identity, Windows DNS where used, time, networks, power, life-safety systems, vendors, and monitoring personnel and the environment’s recorded constraints.

Applicability questions

• For source statement 1 at 49 CFR 1542.221(a)(1), read with 49 CFR 1542.221(a) (eCFR anchor p-1542.221(a)(1)), which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?
• For source statement 2 at 49 CFR 1542.221(b)(3), read with 49 CFR 1542.221(b) (eCFR anchor p-1542.221(b)(3)), which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?
• Which owner can attest to the recorded state of access control, video, intrusion detection, communications, supporting facilities, operators, and documented response paths, including exceptions?
• What baseline for identity, Windows DNS where used, time, networks, power, life-safety systems, vendors, and monitoring personnel must accompany the source-specific observation?
• Which success, stop, and escalation criteria are written before testing begins?

DSE recommendation:

DSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Anchor the review in the cited section and keep observation separate from interpretation. Record the source location, examined part of access control, video, intrusion detection, communications, supporting facilities, operators, and documented response paths, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation.

Do not move from citation to production in one step. Pilot the decision where practical, observe agreed signals, retain a reversal point, and verify identity, Windows DNS where used, time, networks, power, life-safety systems, vendors, and monitoring personnel. Handle credentials, keys, recovery data, and personal information through approved secure channels.

Verification and evidence

Evidence should let another reviewer reproduce this decision. Retain observations beside the traced locations 49 CFR 1542.221(a)(1), read with 49 CFR 1542.221(a) (eCFR anchor p-1542.221(a)(1)); 49 CFR 1542.221(b)(3), read with 49 CFR 1542.221(b) (eCFR anchor p-1542.221(b)(3)). Favor asset and firmware inventories, configuration exports, event tests, inspections, alarm response records, and maintenance findings, linked to stable identifiers, time, and operator.

Record the decision even when no change is made, including uncertainty and the next trigger. Use safe testing conditions for disruptive work, preserve rollback proof, and revisit the conclusion after relevant platform, dependency, vendor, or ownership changes.

Official references

• 49 CFR 1542.221 — Airport Security — Transportation Security Administration via eCFR