"FAA Weighs Airline Security Moves"

Monday, September 24, 2001

FAA Weighs Airline Security Moves


NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal aviation officials said Monday they are
considering banning early seat selection and carryon baggage as security
is reviewed in the wake of this month's terrorist attacks. 

Federal Aviation Administration chief Jane Garvey, who traveled here
Monday to hold meetings and assess security at John F. Kennedy Airport,
said a host of security measures was being discussed in advance of the
final recommendations by two newly established task forces. 

Already, airports are being required to do criminal background checks of
all employees who have access to secure areas. The FAA said it was
considering a requirement that workers' identifications be verified,
followed by new checks of employment histories and possible criminal
backgrounds. The agency earlier said the order had been given, but said
late Monday that it was considering the idea and hadn't formally acted. 

Some aviation officials think it is possible that knives and box cutters
used by the hijackers to commandeer four commercial airliners Sept. 11
were not smuggled in through the security checkpoints for passengers.
Instead, they believe, it is possible the devices were planted on the
planes while they were parked on the tarmac by someone with access to
the aircraft. 

That is also a reason why the task forces are looking at eliminating
assigned seats. Investigators found box cutters aboard at least two
other airplanes that were grounded following the hijackings. 

The reason for banning carryon baggage would be to give security
screeners more time to check passengers who are boarding flights. 

``Things that two weeks ago would have been perceived as a significant
inconvenience are now being perceived as essential security measures,''
Garvey told reporters. 

The task forces, which are looking at ways to strengthen both airport
and airline security, also are looking at installing mesh doors to
protect cockpits from hijackers, panic buttons pilots could use to alert
authorities of an emergency; video cameras trained on the cabin; and
technology to match the faces or fingerprints of passengers who are on
the watch lists of federal law enforcement authorities. 

Airports now are being patrolled by armed security officers from the
U.S. Marshals and Customs Service, as well as local law enforcement
agencies. 

At Kennedy Airport, bomb-sniffing dogs are evident, and many more bags
are now being screened for explosives. FAA special agents roam the
terminals and talk with the security screeners to make sure they are
following the latest rules. 

Every carryon bag is being hand-checked and more passengers are being
hand-searched with a wand, even after passing through the metal
detection machines. 

Garvey toured the airport Monday to see how well the new security
measures were working, part of her attempt to encourage travelers to fly
again. 

Despite the heightened security, planes are flying only half-full and
airlines have cut 20 percent to 30 percent of their flights. 

``It is very different,'' Garvey said after surveying the security. ``No
one can imagine someone being willing to commit suicide and use an
airline as a lethal weapon. This is a whole new world that we're in.'' 

Garvey said the task forces set up by Transportation Secretary Norman Y.
Mineta also are looking at whether airports should be allowed to use
their federal funds to help pay the costs of having local police forces
on patrol.

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