Travel Safety & Security Update.

TSA offers bonuses to screeners who stay. The Transportation Security Administration hopes bonuses of up to $1,000 will reduce turnover among airport screeners. The TSA is preparing for the busy summer travel season. One in four screeners left the TSA last year. Apr 28, 2006

Companies should bid on ID card program, officials say. Some industry officials are questioning a provision added to a spending measure that allows an arm of the American Association of Airport Executives to perform background checks on maritime workers. The critics say the industry should be allowed to compete for the ID project. Apr 27, 2006

Fears about terrorism, bird flu don't deter travelers from Asia. Travelers are returning to Asia, but many are avoiding particular areas because they fear the bird flu and terrorism, according to a study. Some of the respondents were misinformed about the location of terrorist attacks and where bird flu outbreaks have occurred, said a spokesman for Visa International Asia Pacific, which sponsored the report. Apr 27, 2006

TSA fines fewer fliers in 2005. The federal government fined fewer travelers last year for security violations at airports. The Transportation Security Administration is focusing on more serious threats, and travelers are not bringing as many banned items to security checkpoints, a TSA official said. Apr 27, 2006

Airlines say CDC bird flu plan not workable. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plan calls for airlines to ask passengers for their full name and address, emergency contact numbers and detailed flight information. Airlines would have to keep the data for 60 days and, if asked, transmit it to the CDC within 12 hours. Airlines say the CDC's plan won't work because of cost, technological difficulties and the time needed to fill out the forms. Apr 26, 2006

NTSB recommends changes to design approval process. The National Transportation Safety Board is urging the Federal Aviation Administration to change the way it approves new airplane designs. Problems with the approval process contributed to four crashes, the NTSB said. Apr 26, 2006

Groups oppose plans for detaining, tracking sick travelers. Health experts and civil libertarians are coming out in opposition of a government proposal to battle an avian flu pandemic by detaining sick airline and ship passengers and requiring the travel companies to collect personal information from all passengers, reporting the sick ones to the government. One of the most controversial parts of the plan would require that passengers give airlines detailed contact information, the names of traveling companions and information on their travel plans. Apr 25, 2006

DHS solicits bids for anti-missile systems. The Department of Homeland Security wants to develop new ways to protect fliers from the threat of terrorist missiles. The Air Transport Association said that by focusing on two vendors of laser systems to the exclusion of other technology, the Department of Homeland Security was simply offering the American public "two flavors of vanilla." DHS has asked companies to submit bids for alternative anti-missile systems. Apr 24, 2006

FAA predicts wave of controller retirements. The Federal Aviation Administration is predicting a surge in retirements among air-traffic controllers, the Washington Post's Stephen Barr writes. The FAA expects to hire and train 12,500 new controllers through fiscal 2014. Apr 24, 2006

FAA tests runway safety system. Federal officials are testing a safety system that warns pilots directly of runway problems. The system uses a string of red lights that light up when it is not safe for a plane to take off. Apr 24, 2006

TSA warns private jet owners. The Transportation Security Administration wants private jet owners and airports to increase security. Last week, a message posted on a Web forum encouraged Muslims to destroy private jets. Apr 24, 2006

US Air Transport Assn. on Friday criticized the Transportation Security Administration's plan to begin rolling out its Registered Traveler program this year, saying it "firmly believes that limited TSA resources should not be diverted from efficiently and effectively screening all passengers to a program that provides limited and questionable benefits for some customers. Instead, TSA should focus on programs that improve the overall passenger screening process." On Thursday, TSA announced it would be ready to roll out the RT program starting this summer but would do so on a limited basis at 10-20 airports, which were not announced. "A phased approach to implementation will allow the agency to confirm the private sector's ability to provide interoperability among RT airports, evaluate the impact of alternate checkpoint processes on screening and wait times and ensure that RT maintains the agency's high security standards," TSA said. The program is expected to go national next year, "subject to public demand." Apr 24, 2006

Venezuela receives higher safety ranking from U.S.. U.S. aviation officials on Friday boosted Venezuela's safety ranking to Category 1 and said they were pleased with improvements to the country's air safety. Venezuela had threatened to ban U.S. carriers if the ranking was not improved. Apr 24, 2006

Atlanta airport

Computer glitch at Atlanta airport costs Delta $1.3M: A computer glitch at the Atlanta airport that closed the main security checkpoint for two hours on Wednesday cost Delta Air Lines $1.3 million. Officials stopped outbound flights after a TSA security agent noticed a suspicious image while screening bags. No actual threat was found. Apr 24, 2006

Boston's Logan

Boston's Logan mulls Registered Traveler program. Officials at Boston's Logan International Airport say they are still evaluating the federal program to speed registered travelers through security lines. Other airports have said they do not plan to participate because the program will not save time. Apr 25, 2006

San Jose airport 

San Jose airport will pursue Registered Traveler program. San Jose International Airport says it wants the Registered Traveler program, but some other airports have decided against it. The Air Transport Association does not believe the program is a good use of resources and instead wants the Transportation Security Administration to improve the overall screening process. Apr 26, 2006