# Provide law-enforcement support for airport security and response > Use 49 CFR 1542.215 -- Airport Security to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope. - Canonical URL: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/provide-law-enforcement-support-for-airport-security-and-response/ - Publisher: Detection Systems & Engineering (DSE Security) - Author: DSE Security Editorial Team - Published: 2026-08-27T12:10:27+00:00 - Modified: 2026-08-27T13:12:21+00:00 - Last reviewed by DSE: 2026-08-26 - Resource type: Guide - DSE priority: Advisory - Topics: Access Control, Cybersecurity, Video Surveillance - Reading time: 3 minutes ## What you need to know Use 49 CFR 1542.215 -- Airport Security to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope. ## Potentially affected Teams, systems, services, or facilities within the stated scope of 49 CFR 1542.215 -- Airport Security ## DSE recommendation Compare the observed state with the cited official source, document applicability and exceptions, and test any approved change with rollback safeguards. ## Article Use this document to connect an official requirement or behavior to observable evidence: Provide law-enforcement support for airport security and response. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting. ## Source fact: The official [49 CFR 1542.215 — Airport Security](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-1542.215) from Transportation Security Administration via eCFR supports the following bounded statements: - Under 49 CFR 1542, in accordance with section 1542.217, each airport operator required to have a security program under section 1542.103(a) or (b) must provide: law enforcement personnel in the number and manner adequate to support its security program. The research record locates this support at 49 CFR 1542.215(a)(1), read with 49 CFR 1542.215(a) (eCFR anchor p-1542.215(a)(1)). - Under 49 CFR 1542, the rule requires that each airport required to have a security program under section 1542.103(c) ensure that the procedures by which to request law enforcement support are provided to each aircraft operator or foreign air carrier that has a security program under part 1544 or 1546 of this chapter. The research record locates this support at 49 CFR 1542.215(b)(2), read with 49 CFR 1542.215(b) (eCFR anchor p-1542.215(b)(2)). Only the traced statements above are asserted as source facts. Apply the review to access control, video, intrusion detection, communications, supporting facilities, operators, and documented response paths after confirming that the source and deployed context match. ## 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 1542.215(a)(1), read with 49 CFR 1542.215(a) (eCFR anchor p-1542.215(a)(1)), which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here? - For source statement 2 at 49 CFR 1542.215(b)(2), read with 49 CFR 1542.215(b) (eCFR anchor p-1542.215(b)(2)), 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. Begin by recording scope and current state before deciding whether a change is warranted. 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. If the review warrants change, use a bounded implementation with prerequisites, test population, monitoring, abort criteria, and a rehearsed reversal. Sequence checks for identity, Windows DNS where used, time, networks, power, life-safety systems, vendors, and monitoring personnel and sanitize protected material before retention. ## Verification and evidence Tie each conclusion back to 49 CFR 1542.215(a)(1), read with 49 CFR 1542.215(a) (eCFR anchor p-1542.215(a)(1)); 49 CFR 1542.215(b)(2), read with 49 CFR 1542.215(b) (eCFR anchor p-1542.215(b)(2)) and to observable material such as asset and firmware inventories, configuration exports, event tests, inspections, alarm response records, and maintenance findings. Preserve provenance and stable identifiers without copying secrets into the evidence set. Keep before-state evidence, approval, test or change result, exceptions, and after-state evidence together. Use an approved lab, window, or nonproduction path for risky tests. Set a recheck trigger for version, architecture, dependency, vendor, incident, or ownership change. A check proves only what was observed. ## Official references - [49 CFR 1542.215 — Airport Security](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-1542.215) — Transportation Security Administration via eCFR ## Primary reference - Name: 49 CFR 1542.215 -- Airport Security - Authority: www.ecfr.gov - URL: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-1542.215 - Source publication date: Not stated by the source ## Citation and use Preferred citation: “Provide law-enforcement support for airport security and response,” DSE Security, https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/provide-law-enforcement-support-for-airport-security-and-response/ Publishing principles: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/ Usage and citation policy: https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/ Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. All rights reserved.