49 CFR § 1562.21 - Scope, general requirements, and definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s1562.21"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 1562.21 - Scope, general requirements, and definitions."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "1562.21"
section_name: "Scope, general requirements, and definitions."
chapter_name: "TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY"
part_number: "1562"
part_name: "OPERATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON, DC, METROPOLITAN AREA"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 114, 40114, Sec. 823, Pub. L. 108-176, 117 Stat. 2595."
regulatory_source: "70 FR 7162, Feb. 10, 2005, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1562"
---


# 1562.21 Scope, general requirements, and definitions.

(a) *Scope.* This subpart applies to aircraft operations into or out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), fixed base operators located at DCA or gateway airports; individuals designated as a security coordinator by aircraft operators or fixed base operators; and crewmembers, passengers, and armed security officers on aircraft operations subject to this subpart.

(b) *General requirements.* Each person operating an aircraft into or out of DCA must comply with this subpart, except:

(1) Military, law enforcement, and medivac aircraft operations;

(2) Federal and State government aircraft operations operating under an airspace waiver approved by TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration;

(3) All-cargo aircraft operations; and

(4) Passenger aircraft operations conducted under:

(i) A full security program approved by TSA in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.101(a); or

(ii) A foreign air carrier security program approved by TSA in accordance with 49 CFR 1546.101(a) or (b).

(c) *Other security programs.* Each aircraft operator required to comply with this subpart for an aircraft operation into or out of DCA must also comply with any other TSA-approved security program that covers that operation. If any requirements of the DASSP conflict with the requirements of another TSA-approved security program, the aircraft operation must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the DASSP.

(d) *Definitions.* For purposes of this subpart, the following definitions apply:

*Armed Security Officer Program* means the security program approved by TSA, in coordination with the Federal Air Marshal Service, for security officers authorized to carry a firearm under § 1562.29 of this part.

*Crewmember* means a person assigned to perform duty in an aircraft during flight time. This does not include an armed security officer.

*DCA* means Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

*DASSP* means the aircraft operator security program (DCA Access Standard Security Program) approved by TSA under this part for aircraft operations into and out of DCA.

*FBO* means a fixed base operator that has been approved by TSA under this part to serve as a last point of departure for flights into or out of DCA.

*FBO Security Program* means the security program approved by TSA under this part for FBOs to serve flights into or out of DCA.

*Flightcrew member* means a pilot, flight engineer, or flight navigator assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time.

*Gateway airport* means an airport that has been approved by TSA under this part as a last point of departure for flights into DCA under this part.

*Passenger* means any person on an aircraft other than a flightcrew member. A “passenger” includes an armed security officer authorized to carry a firearm in accordance with the rule.