"Many Airports Wait Before Opting Out of TSA Screening"

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Many Airports Wait Before Opting Out  
By Kimberly Johnson  
Aviation Week & Space Technology
 
 
Many U.S. airports are holding off applying at the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) to use private screeners, waiting to see how much
leeway the agency will give the airports to manage their screening programs.


TSA on Friday began accepting applications for the Screening Partnership
Program (SPP), which allows airport operators to have federal screening
performed by a contractor under TSA oversight. The agency has not set an
application deadline and expects the airports approved for the program to
begin making the transition in May 2005. 

The agency had not received any applications as of Monday afternoon, a TSA
spokeswoman said. According to Airports Council International-North America
(ACI-NA), many airports are interested in the program but are waiting to see
just how flexible TSA will be in meeting individual airport requirements.
About 40 airports have contacted ACI-NA for information on the program, and
about 20 airports are considered "very interested," with about four major
airports in negotiations with TSA. 

"This is an important local decision and we're ready to work with any
airport that prefers to have contractor screeners," said TSA Administrator
David Stone. "An important objective is to maintain the same high level of
security at any airport that seeks to 'opt out' of federal screening, and
TSA is prepared to make that guarantee." 

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that TSA was taking
steps to relay information to airports and program stakeholders, including
posting an application in June and a list of frequently asked questions.
Still, GAO found airports and screening contractors wanted more information
on liability issues that would arise if screener failure resulted in a
terrorist incident.


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