"Traffic Increase May Cause Screening Delays This Summer"

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Traffic Increase May Cause Screening Delays This Summer
Screener Staffing A Major Issue To Fight Congestion At Checkpoints
Airport Security Report


The absence of a defined time period for screening passengers at
security checkpoints is one factor that has industry stakeholders
worried that an expected bounce in passenger traffic this summer could
cause long lines inside airport terminals and significant delays for
commercial airlines. 

The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) last year dropped the
10-minute standard for screening passengers established in November 2001
by Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. The TSA's reluctance to
develop a security process that screens passengers quickly and
consistently across airports could lead to a nationwide meltdown this
summer if the agency does not increase screening staff and standardize
best practices at all major airports, said members of the U.S. House
Aviation Subcommittee at members a May 13 hearing. 

The TSA is developing a plan to deal with the expected passenger
increase this summer at 25 critical airports, based on size, scope and
destination. The agency is expected to deliver the plan in time for the
Memorial Day holiday traffic. The plan concentrates on better informing
travelers about bag packing, increasing the decision-making power of
Federal Security Directors (FSDs) at airports and utilizing non-security
personnel to handle baggage to and from X- ray machines. 

The Air Transport Association (ATA) expects airlines to carry 65 million
passengers per month this summer - a 12 percent increase over last year.
Traffic would be the busiest since the delay-plagued summer of 2000. 

Already, 13 of the top 35 airports conduct more operations than they did
prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

But members of Congress remain suspicious that TSA has failed to
concentrate on the most important issue: to hire and deploy enough
screeners to handle the increased traffic. 

"I don't think the crises taking place at the airports are rising to the
level of intensity at TSA central as they should. We're 60 days away
from the heaviest [passenger] traffic this country has ever seen," said
Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). 

"I'm really worried there's going to be a meltdown. You've got to take
these 25 airports and have a game plan. The airport authorities need to
know what the game plan is and the travelers must know what the game
plan is," he said. 

Numerous committee members told TSA officials that major airports -
including Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS), Newark Liberty
International Airport (EWR) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) -
remain understaffed some 18 months after TSA took control of pre-board
passenger screening. 

Las Vegas reportedly needs 300 additional screeners for seven new
checkpoint lanes, which are expected to be operational in June.
Likewise, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) could be losing
200 screeners from its authorized level. Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX) has been understaffed as much as 20 percent at one point.
And Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) could see its
checkpoints become chokepoints this summer as Independence Air begins
operations with a projected 300 flights per day. 

Worse yet, former screeners at Newark airport told the local media that
security at the airport was "smoke and mirrors" because TSA was so
short-staffed that security protocols for checked baggage were being
neglected in order to keep passengers and flights from being delayed. 

"This is an airport with a Sept. 11 history," said Rep. Robert Menendez
(D-N.J.), referring to the origin of one of the hijacked aircraft. "I
believe we continue to play around with security, and that is
unacceptable." 

Some of the problems with screener staffing levels come from a
congressional cap of 45,000 screeners. TSA has been slow to authorize
hiring or has been unable to hire adequate staff at airports. Another
issue is a growing attrition rate, which now reaches 30 percent, said
Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.). Workman's compensation claims for injuries
and absentees due to military reserve call-ups are also problems, since
both count against the 45,000 cap, although screeners are not present. 

But the agency will begin hiring staff to fill positions in anticipation
of the summer traffic, said Stephen McHale, TSA's deputy administrator.
The agency will begin a trial project at Boston Logan International
Airport (BOS) this month to allow the local FSD to hire screeners
directly through a yet-to- be-established regional center. The project
should allow the FSD flexibility to hire a proper number of screeners
from the best applicants, who will then be put into training programs
immediately. A second project will be established in Los Angeles at a
later date, McHale said. 

In addition, TSA will mobilize its national screening force to airports
when necessary. 

However, the agency's inability to hire and train screeners quickly
remains a tremendous problem. According to agency protocols, it takes 61
days to hire and train a single new applicant in order to fill a
screener position. 

McHale said he finds the timeframe acceptable. "TSA moves very fast
[for] government standards," he said. 

Committee members weren't convinced. "That may not help us this summer.
I still don't hear from TSA a viable plan," said Rep. John Mica
(R-Fla.). 

Screener morale is another issue to be closely monitored will be. McHale
said TSA will empower FSDs to require screener overtime and to restrict
vacation and leave time, similar to protocols established to handle last
year's Christmas holiday. 

But the one week of heightened travel over the December holiday period
pales in comparison to three months of dramatically increased traffic. 

TSA will have to handle more passengers during at least three major
holidays, along with concentrating efforts for security sensitive
events, including June's G-8 Conference in Savannah, Ga., the Democratic
National Convention in Boston in July, and the Republican National
Convention in New York City in August. 

Committee members feared that screeners could become fatigued, which
could diminish their screening efficiency. 

"[Screeners] will either quit or their effectiveness will be
compromised," said Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.). 

Installing more in-line checked bag systems at airports could help TSA
redirect screeners to passenger screening, but the agency operates only
14 such in-line systems. TSA plans to add another half-dozen, but those
are not expected to become operational until next year.


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