Travel Safety & Security Update.

Tighter budget forces FAA's ATO to cut services. A slimmer Federal Aviation Administration budget for fiscal 2006 is forcing the Air Traffic Organization to cut services, ATO chief Russell Chew said. The FAA requested $6.6 billion for ATO operations, but it received $6.5 billion. ATO Senior Vice President of Finance Eugene Juba said it is unclear how many new controllers the FAA will be able to hire this year. Feb 24, 2006

European airports, airlines prepare for bird flu. European businesses, airlines and airports are preparing for a possible outbreak of the human strain of bird flu. British Airways is exploring how to deal with a decline in travelers, and London's Heathrow Airport is focusing on hygiene among workers. Feb 22, 2006

US FAA announced a five-year partnership with Ordinate Corp. of California to develop a standard Aviation English Test. "This is another step in FAA support to ICAO member states, air carrier operators and air traffic service providers to help them meet the ICAO March 2008 English language proficiency requirement," said Graham Elliott, manager of the FAA Academy's Aviation Language Training Program. "The research is to develop an automated test that both supports ICAO in establishing a global standard and also applies US technology to the otherwise long, arduous and costly process of testing many tens of thousands of pilots and controllers." FAA said Ordinate will reimburse the Academy for its direct expenses and pay the agency a percentage of the gross sales of every AET sold. Feb 22, 2006

TSA expected to finalize Registered Traveler program in April. The Transportation Security Administration is finalizing the Registered Traveler program. Airports may establish faster security lanes for participating travelers later this year. Federal standards for companies seeking certification in the program are expected in April. Critics say the program offers few benefits and is limited to people who can buy their way in. Air Transport Association President James May said it is unclear if th Feb 21, 2006

Airports negotiate Registered Traveler contracts with technology firms. U.S. airports are talking with technology security firms about the operation of the Registered Traveler program. The Air Transport Association believes the benefits of the program are very limited. "What was originally conceived as a straightforward governmental program to benefit the vast majority of passengers has been transformed into a commercial enterprise for what increasingly looks like the few," ATA President and CEO James May said. Feb 20, 2006

TSA should develop contingency plan if fees don't pass, lawmaker says. Transportation Security Administration Administrator Kip Hawley said he would close some operations if Congress does not pass higher passenger security fees. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., who heads the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the TSA, warned Hawley to come up with a plan in case the fees do not pass. Feb 20, 2006

US Rep. Harold Rogers (D-Ky.), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on homeland security, said Thursday that the US Transportation Security Administration's request to raise passenger security fees by $1.4 billion this year and ask airlines to pay retroactive security costs of about $300 million has little chance of passing. Feb 20, 2006

Dubai Ports World 

Dubai company will delay seaport contract. An Arab company has offered to delay taking control of or influencing the management of U.S. ports. The delay will give the White House more time to convince lawmakers that the contract does not jeopardize national security. Dubai Ports World said other parts of the deal will move forward. Some lawmakers have said they will attempt to block the contract as soon as Congress reconvenes. Feb 24, 2006

Port deal included some conditions. The Bush administration chose not to impose some routine restrictions on a United Arab Emirates company before approving its takeover of operations at six U.S. ports, The Associated Press reported. The White House did require the firm to cooperate with future U.S. investigations. Feb 23, 2006

Bush threatens to veto efforts to scuttle port deal. President Bush will veto any bill that blocks a contract for a Dubai company to manage port terminals in several major American cities. Some lawmakers have criticized the arrangement, saying steps must be taken to make sure terrorists could not get weapons into U.S. ports. The deal with the Dubai company is scheduled to close next week. Feb 22, 2006

Los Angeles airport

Three planes avoid collision at Los Angeles airport. Two planes at Los Angeles International Airport came within a few hundred feet of each other after a controller erroneously cleared three aircraft for the same runway. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, which occurred Friday. Feb 22, 2006

Swiss airports

Airline passengers may be screened for fever. The Swiss authorities are examining the use of fever-detecting cameras at airports to help protect the country in the event of a human bird flu pandemic. The Federal Health Office has commissioned a research study to assess the practicality of using thermal imaging cameras to screen for the deadly disease. Thermal imaging cameras can measure the body's surface temperature. Feb 22, 2006