Security chief: Fewer workers will be needed than anticipated.

Byline: ED RUSSO The Register-Guard

Uncle Sam's air-travel security director won't need as many employees at the Eugene Airport as he once thought.

Two months ago, the Transportation Security Administration's Eugene-based security director figured that he would need about 90 people to screen passengers and luggage at the airport.

Now, Don Barker says he'll be satisfied with about 51 screeners, plus 13 managers who also will have responsibilities at other airports. While fewer than expected, the Eugene-based federal work force will be more than three times larger than when the private sector had the job before the 2001 terrorist attacks. But in many ways, Barker said, comparing the work forces is akin to matching apples with oranges because there is more scrutiny of passengers and luggage than before, and federal managers have more responsibilities than the small, private firm did.

Barker said he lowered his hiring projections after reviewing security needs and passenger flows at the city-owned airport.

He was hired in August after 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. In the military, he specialized in the logistics of setting up and operating airfields, seaports and rail stations, as well as transportation and security.

Compared to the way screeners were deployed when a private firm hired by the airlines provided security, Barker said, he'll move screeners more frequently to different posts depending on need.

Having more efficient employees will void the need to hire as many as 90 screeners, he said.

"I'm going to put screeners where they are needed at the time they are needed, as compared to the way it was before, which was simply posting a screener at a particular job and waiting for the passenger flow to come to them," Barker said.

Airport screeners are being hired now in Eugene and elsewhere in the country, as the TSA takes over airline security at the nation's 429 commercial airports.

About 33, or 46 percent, of Barker's Eugene-based staff were hired from screeners who already work at the airport, including some longtime employees of the former private contractor, WSC Enterprises of Eugene. The rest of Barker's work force is being hired from new applicants. Screeners will be paid $23,600 to $35,400 a year, plus benefits, a big improvement from before.

Last year, for example, the 25 screeners who worked for WSC were paid from $6.50 an hour - the state's minimum wage - or $12,480 a year, to $9 an hour, or $17,280 annually. They did not receive health insurance or other benefits. TSA managers will earn $44,000 to $83,000 a year. Barker said his 13 managers include Bob Heilman, owner of WSC Enterprises, who had the airline security contract since 1973.

Barker and his Eugene-based managers are responsible for airline security at the airports in North Bend and Redmond.

The North Bend airport will have 10 screeners, Barker said. Redmond will have 31 screeners and one onsite manager, he said.

Also, Barker and the Eugene-based managers will help regulate security at small, general aviation airports in Oregon, including tasks previously handled by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Nationally, the TSA plans to hire about 50,000 employees by Nov. 19. So far, about 160 airports have federal screeners.

The airports in Eugene, North Bend and Redmond, will soon be added to the list. A group of 37 Eugene-based screeners and managers became federal workers on Sunday when they took an oath required of all federal workers. Other federal employee orientations in Eugene and Redmond will take place by Oct. 29, Barker said.