By Calvin Biesecker
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday launched employee screening pilot programs at seven airports to test various methods for enhancing aviation security.
The pilot programs are being done at the behest of Congress, which provided up to $15 million for the efforts in the FY ’08 Omnibus Appropriations Act, and will last for 90 days. TSA first announced its plans for the test program in February (Defense Daily, Feb. 13).
“We look forward to working with these airports to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of various ways to enhance employee screening,” TSA Administrator Kip Hawley said in a statement. “After the pilots we will work with Congress and our security partners to assess and implement our findings.”
TSA is required to report to Congress by September on the cost and effectiveness of each of the pilot programs.
At Boston’s Logan International Airport TSA will conduct 100 percent physical employee and vehicle screening at key airport perimeter entrances and select employee entrances from the public area to the secure area. TSA will also evaluate biometric access control.
TSA will also conduct a biometric access control evaluation at Denver International Airport as well. At Denver, Kansas City International, and Eugene, Ore., and Southwest Oregon Regional Airports, TSA will increase random physical screening using its Aviation Direct Access Screening Program, which is currently in place and involves the screening of employees and their accessible property and vehicles at a direct access point screening location. In addition, at these airports TSA will also provide behavior detection training to law enforcement officials and airport operations and security personnel, conduct employee awareness training, and deploy portable screening equipment.
At Jacksonville International Airport, Fla., and Craven Regional Airport, N.C., TSA will conduct 100 percent physical screening at all employee and vehicle access points from the public area to the secure area.