What authority does the Federal Security Director have with respect to airports and air carriers?

• A. Approve the Airport Security Plan (ASP)
• B. Issue airworthiness certificates
• C. Set airport landing fees
• D. Enforce passenger manifest rules

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the Federal Security Director’s role in approving the Airport Security Plan. The FSD, as the TSA official in charge of airport security, reviews and signs off on the ASP—the security blueprint that shows how the airport will meet federal requirements for screening, access control, security staffing, training, and coordination with air carriers and airport operations. That approval is what authorizes the airport to operate under TSA security standards. The other options fall outside this role: issuing airworthiness certificates is an FAA function, setting landing fees is determined by the airport authority, and enforcing passenger manifest rules is handled by CBP/TSA and airline operations, not the FSD’s ASP approval responsibility.