Airline security plan released

10/06/2001

By Terri Langford
The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON – The airlines want federalized security screeners. But like other airline safety recommendations being crafted by Congress, it's unclear exactly what shape a final proposal may take.

Late Friday, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta released two reports filled with airline industry suggestions about how to make airports and aircraft safe from attack.

His office declined to comment on reports from the two rapid reponse teams, both of which contained few surprises as parts of their content were leaked shortly after the reports were turned into Mr. Mineta's office on Monday.

The task force devoted to finding better ways to enhance aircraft security recommended a new cockpit door design within six months and temporary reinforcements to cockpit doors until the design is completed. The cockpit should be outfitted with stun guns, not handguns.

A national travel card, a call for better security technology, a new carry-on limit, and a new federal agency to oversee airport screeners were all among the ideas generated by former Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher's airport team.

But when it came to exactly how the new agency was staffed, it appeared to be open-ended.

Security screeners would be granted full federal arrest powers and supervised by a separate team of transportation officers who would work directly for this new security agency. However, the team's report proposed the same two options that seem to divide Congress: use federally employed screeners or privately contracted ones overseen by a new federal agency.

According to the report, the new agency "would also hire, train, and deploy to U.S. airports uniformed federal transportation security officers, who would oversee and manage the full range of airport security functions to be carried out by federal or privately contracted personnel."

The proposed new federal agency would inherit all functions related to airport passengers and baggage screening. It also would conduct rigorous background checks, train and test screeners and security personnel, purchase and maintain all equipment, and coordinate safety measures with other law enforcement authorities at the federal, state, and local levels.

Mr. Mineta assembled two teams to study security within days of the Sept. 11 suicide hijackings.

Other recommendations included an accelerated review of classified technologies with potential applications to aviation security, and limiting carry-on luggage to one bag and one personal article such as a purse or briefcase.

Limiting the number of carry-on articles would provide inspectors more time to screen items.

Other recommendations include:

• Only ticketed passengers should be allowed beyond security checkpoints.

• Airports should station a law enforcement officer or National Guard member at each screening checkpoint until a new federal agency assumes those duties.

• Airports should confirm that all employees, including private contractors, who have access to secured areas are still working at the airport and have proper identification. Many airports, including Dallas/Fort Worth International, began that process soon after the Sept. 11 attacks.

• Criminal background checks should be performed on all airport employees who have access to secure areas. Since December, only new airport employees have been subject to an automatic criminal background check. The task force recommended that criminal checks be done on all employees with secured area access.

D/FW Airport has taken steps to do that but has declined to say when, saying it is a security issue.