Pilot finds himself inside the area designated as a security area at saf.

Attributes
ACN	451406
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : saf.airport
State Reference	NM
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 150
ASRS Report	451406
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : taxiway other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

I had just landed at saf and was taxiing in the ramp area to pick up a passenger. I noticed an air carrier nearby (approximately 50 yards away) that was loading passenger, but did not think twice about it. Shortly thereafter, I was informed by the tower that I was in a security area and would be fined unless I vacated it immediately. I looked closer at the ramp area and noticed I was evidently on the 'wrong' side of a red line. I taxied out of the area immediately. Evidently the red line delineates a security area which is active when passenger are loading or unloading in it from commuter airlines. Despite doing much of my student training at saf, I was never briefed on this. I asked several local pilots and instructors if they were aware of the existence of a security area at saf. None were. I could also find no mention of it in the aim or AFD. The use of a security area for commercial passenger makes perfect sense, and, now that I am aware of it, I will avoid it in the future. However, it would be more effective if its existence/purpose were published to local pilots!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FINDS HIMSELF INSIDE THE AREA DESIGNATED AS A SECURITY AREA AT SAF.

Narrative: I HAD JUST LANDED AT SAF AND WAS TAXIING IN THE RAMP AREA TO PICK UP A PAX. I NOTICED AN ACR NEARBY (APPROX 50 YARDS AWAY) THAT WAS LOADING PAX, BUT DID NOT THINK TWICE ABOUT IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I WAS INFORMED BY THE TWR THAT I WAS IN A SECURITY AREA AND WOULD BE FINED UNLESS I VACATED IT IMMEDIATELY. I LOOKED CLOSER AT THE RAMP AREA AND NOTICED I WAS EVIDENTLY ON THE 'WRONG' SIDE OF A RED LINE. I TAXIED OUT OF THE AREA IMMEDIATELY. EVIDENTLY THE RED LINE DELINEATES A SECURITY AREA WHICH IS ACTIVE WHEN PAX ARE LOADING OR UNLOADING IN IT FROM COMMUTER AIRLINES. DESPITE DOING MUCH OF MY STUDENT TRAINING AT SAF, I WAS NEVER BRIEFED ON THIS. I ASKED SEVERAL LCL PLTS AND INSTRUCTORS IF THEY WERE AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF A SECURITY AREA AT SAF. NONE WERE. I COULD ALSO FIND NO MENTION OF IT IN THE AIM OR AFD. THE USE OF A SECURITY AREA FOR COMMERCIAL PAX MAKES PERFECT SENSE, AND, NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF IT, I WILL AVOID IT IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE IF ITS EXISTENCE/PURPOSE WERE PUBLISHED TO LCL PLTS!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.