"Aviation Experts: New Airport Security Equipment Needed"

Tuesday, January 1, 2002

Aviation Experts: New Equipment Needed


WASHINGTON (AP) -- At airports, the war on terrorism is being fought
with 30-year-old weapons. 

Metal detectors and X-ray machines used to screen passengers and
carry-on luggage date from the 1970s, when they were deployed to prevent
hijackings. 

They can't detect plastic explosives, such as those allegedly hidden in
the shoes of a man aboard a Paris-to-Miami flight on Dec. 22. A
passenger, Richard C. Reid was arrested after American Airlines
attendants allegedly saw him try to touch a lighted match to his
sneakers. 

``Most equipment that is deployed is a generation old,'' said Rep. John
Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House aviation subcommittee. ``You need
highly sophisticated equipment that will detect explosive materials.'' 

Even the current metal detectors could be replaced with more modern
equipment, former FAA security chief Billie Vincent said. 

``Given the level of threat, we do not want to grandfather anything,''
Vincent said. 

Developing and deploying such equipment will be the job of the new
Transportation Security Administration, which is to take control of
airline security by Feb. 19. 

But President Bush's nominee to head the agency, John Magaw, is still
awaiting confirmation by the Senate. 

Senate Agriculture Committee chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, blocked the
Senate from approving Magaw, a former head of the Secret Service and the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, according to a congressional
aide speaking on condition of anonymity. Harkin acted after Republicans
stopped the Senate from voting on a Democratic plan to reauthorize farm
programs through 2006, the aide said. 

Mica has asked President Bush to use an interim process known as recess
appointment to get Magaw in the job while the Senate mulls his
confirmation. 

``The Richard Reid case is yet another sign that we need to bring
immediate focus to our new transportation security agency,'' Mica said.
``The traveling public needs to know that someone is in charge and
taking action now.'' 

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Paul Takemoto said the
new agency is looking at new technology to help screen passengers. The
Federal Aviation Administration is helping to develop such equipment at
its technical center in Atlantic City, N.J. 

Capt. Steve Luckey, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association's
national security committee, said he was concerned that equipment at
airports doesn't screen passengers for explosives. 

``The technology just isn't there to keep up with the demand,'' Luckey
said. ``We're working toward that in the future.'' 

One low-tech solution is on the way; FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said
the agency plans to hire another 90 bomb-sniffing dogs to be deployed at
25 airports. There now are 180 dogs at 39 airports. 

Former Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo said the
FAA concentrated on singling out some passengers for extensive searches
rather than developing equipment to screen everyone for explosives. 

``They really thought they had the problem solved with their
profiling,'' said Schiavo, now a lawyer representing victims of airline
accidents. ``They really did not place too much effort in the equipment
at all.'' 

Equipment at many airports can screen checked baggage for explosives.
The new aviation security law requires a system in place at each airport
to screen all checked bags by explosive detection machines by Dec. 31,
2002. Beginning Jan. 18, 2002, all checked bags must be inspected for
explosives by machine, hand, bomb-sniffing dog, or ensuring that the
luggage is not loaded on an airplane unless the passenger boards. 

Mica said the new law also includes $50 million to develop new
equipment, and asked the Transportation Department to tell him in
January how it plans to spend the money. 

``Your security system is only as strong as its weakest link,'' Mica
said. ``It is important that we have technology and equipment that will
detect not only checked baggage but explosives that may be concealed on
the person.''


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