Travel Security Update May 2005.

Homeland Security to test laser missile detection system. The Department of Homeland Security will soon use three commercial jetliners to test an infrared laser-based system designed to defend the planes against shoulder-fired missiles, the New York Times reports. If adopted, the new system would cost more than $10 billion to install on all commercial planes. Some experts question whether the project would be the most effective way to counter the threat of terrorism. May 31, 2005

Government to test Registered Traveler program in Orlando. The government will launch a test program this summer aimed at letting frequent travelers speed through security checkpoints, USA TODAY reports. It will test the program at Orlando International Airport, which on Wednesday will pick a vendor to sign up travelers and forward their names to the government.

May 31, 2005

Israel back on the travel map as warnings abate. Americans were advised for several years to avoid Israel due to the possibility of violence, but it's back on the map as a sought-after destination now that the U.S. has eased warnings against traveling there. Tour companies are responding to higher demand by offering more packages in the mid price range. May 27, 2005

Chertoff should work to change DHS culture. The Department of Homeland Security has not done enough to improve the country's security considering how much it has spent, the Washington Post's editorial board writes. Many reports by government agencies have documented problems within DHS. After he completes a departmental review, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff should try to change the department's culture and encourage workers to react to criticism. May 27, 2005

Airlines say no-fly list is sometimes incomplete. Some airlines say they do not always have access to the most recent version of the U.S. no-fly list, the Washington Post reports. Foreign flights bound for the U.S. must check their passenger list against the no-fly list before takeoff. Mistakes on the no-fly list have led to at least two unnecessary diversions. May 25, 2005

Chertoff hopes to work with Europe on release of security data. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff hopes to work with European leaders to find ways to improve airline passenger screening, Reuters reports. The Europeans are concerned that releasing air traveler information before takeoff could violate a passenger's privacy. The U.S. wants information on travelers released one hour before a plane departs.

May 24, 2005

Guitarist now a prominent counter terrorism consultant. Former Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff Baxter is a well-known counter terrorism expert, the Wall Street Journal reports. He does work for the Department of Defense and has consulting contracts with Northrop Grumman, Science Applications International and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. He specializes in helping defense firms and government officials understand how terrorists think and behave. May 24, 2005

Privacy advocates, security experts skeptical of X-ray machines. The Transportation Security Administration will test new security machines that use X-ray imaging technology at several airports this year, Joe Sharkey writes in the New York Times. The machines reveal a detailed body image that some privacy advocates say is intrusive. Some security experts say terrorists could easily thwart the technology. May 24, 2005

Long waits in security lines could return as more people travel. Airports have managed to shorten long waits in security lines, but some observers say the problem may return as more people travel this summer, USA Today reports. Air Transport Association security director Christopher Bidwell noted the long lines forced some airlines to hold flights. He does not think the problem is resolved. May 23, 2005

Long waits in security lines could return as more people travel. Airports have managed to shorten long waits in security lines, but some observers say the problem may return as more people travel this summer, USA Today reported. Air Transport Association security director Christopher Bidwell noted the long lines forced some airlines to hold flights. He does not think the problem is resolved. May 23, 2005

Rush to secure U.S. after attacks led to overpriced contracts. Internal government reports have consistently questioned the effectiveness of security systems and equipment purchased after Sept. 11, 2001, the Washington Post reports in two articles. One program under criticism is the contract to hire airport screeners, which has grown from $104 million to $741 million. The contract for airport bomb-detection equipment doubled in cost within 18 months. May 23, 2005

Homeland Security still without plan to check fliers before take off. The government is running behind schedule in coming up with a way to check passenger lists against a no-fly list before planes take off, the Associated Press reports. Congress gave the Department of Homeland Security until Feb. 15 to come up with a plan. Two U.S.-bound planes from Europe were diverted in the past week when a passenger's name was similar to a name on the no-fly list. May 20, 2005

United States visitors with British passports, perhaps confused by various announcements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are reminded that from 26 June 2005 they must have a machine-readable passport to enter the USA. In a practical sense most people will have by now a passport meeting these requirements. Machine-readable passports have a sequence of lines that can be swiped by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to confirm the passport holder's identity quickly and to obtain other information about the holder typically found on a passport's inside cover. 27 countries including the UK are participating in the scheme. http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/vwp.html May 20, 2005

House bill would end color-coded threat system. The House passed a bill that could end the color-coded security threat system, the Washington Post reports. A new system would provide more specific information to the public. The bill would also allow private jets to use Reagan National Airport and cut the time passengers on flying on final approach into the airport must stay in their seats from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. May 19, 2005

Loosening ban, TSA will allow unfilled lighters in checked luggage. The Transportation Security Administration will allow airline passengers to transport unfilled lighters in checked luggage, the Associated Press reports. The TSA had previously banned lighters from all luggage. Lighters are still forbidden in carryon luggage. May 18, 2005

Spending plan cuts Homeland Security image consultant. A spending plan approved by the House would eliminate funding for a consultant charged with improving the Homeland Security Department's image, the Washington Post reports. Nearly two-thirds of Homeland Security's funds would be used to secure borders, airports and seaports, the Associated Press reports. May 18, 2005

Experts fear laser flashes could eventually cause a crash. The Federal Aviation Administration has recorded more than 155 incidents of lasers flashing the cockpits of commercial jetliners since Nov. 10, the Dallas Morning News reports. None of the flashes have resulted in serious accidents or injuries, but some safety experts fear the laser incidents could eventually cause a crash. May 16, 2005

TSA to start testing controversial X-ray machines later this year. Later this year the Transportation Security Administration will start using X-ray machines to screen travelers for weapons, USA TODAY reports. The refrigerator-size machines are controversial because they allow workers to see under a person's clothes and display a picture of the person's nude body. May 15, 2005

TSA fines travelers with prohibited items, report says. The Transportation Security Administration is fining passengers who attempt to pass through security checkpoints with banned items, MSNBC reports. A TSA spokeswoman said the agency typically doesn't fine travelers who forget to remove banned items but noted that "aggravating circumstances" will influence the amount of a fine. May 12, 2005

Airport evacuations increase, riling travelers. Airport evacuations have become routine events, USA TODAY reports. About five are conducted per week, and they disrupt the schedules of millions of passengers. A Transportation Security Administration spokesman said no evacuation has uncovered plans for a terrorist attack. Some security experts say airports often are emptied needlessly, and airlines can lose millions during an evacuation. May 11, 2005

Liability keeps airports from switching to private screeners. Airports are in no hurry to replace federal screeners with private screeners, the Associated Press reports. Airports say they are concerned travelers might sue them if private screeners fail to prevent a terrorist attack. Only two airports have applied to switch to private screeners. May 10, 2005

Airport checkpoints create niche for "security-friendly" clothing. Several companies are creating "security-friendly" clothing that will help speed travelers through airport checkpoints, CNN Money reports. Products include nonmetal suspenders, nonmetal boots, and nonmetal, all-hosiery bras. May 10, 2005

Homeland Security to spend billions more on security systems. The government plans to replace most of the antiterrorism equipment used to guard the country's ports, borders and airports because it has done little to improve security, the New York Times reports. Officials said the equipment does reduce risks, and added it was the best equipment available after the Sept. 11 attacks. The Department of Homeland Security will now spend billions on new equipment and systems. May 9, 2005

White House nominates consultant Hawley to lead TSA. Republicans and some aviation and government officials praised the nomination of Edmund S. "Kip" Hawley to lead the Transportation Security Administration, the Washington Post reports. Hawley is a supply-chain technology consultant. He helped the Department of Transportation build the TSA in the months following the Sept. 11 attacks. Air Transport Association CEO James May praised the nomination and said Hawley would bring "a great combination of skills and experience" to the post. May 9, 2005

TSA to test new baggage screening system in Boston. The Transportation Security Administration will start testing a new baggage screening system built by Analogic on Monday at Boston's Logan International Airport, the Boston Globe reports. Officials hope the new system will improve the detection of weapons and ease congestion. It has not yet been certified by the TSA. May 6, 2005

Lawmakers cut DHS budget, eliminate plan to raise airline fees. Lawmakers cut almost $500 million from the Homeland Security Department's 2006 proposed budget on Wednesday, USA Today reports. It also cut $1.7 billion in fees that would have been raised by increasing taxes on airline tickets. Lawmakers said they cut the budget because the department has ignored requests for more information about the budget. May 5, 2005

TSA boosts hearing requirements for screeners; critics say standards are too high. The Transportation Security Administration has raised its hearing requirements, and a screener must now have better hearing than an astronaut, the Dallas Morning News reports. Critics say the high standards may prevent the TSA from hiring good screeners. The TSA boosted the requirement after a medical team said screeners must have better hearing to locate a threat amid airport background noise. May 5, 2005

TSA wants to collect more passenger information. As part of the new Secure Flight program, the Transportation Security Administration will soon ask airlines, agents and online travel sellers to obtain the full names and birth dates of all travelers reserving domestic flights, USA TODAY reports. Although passengers are not required to give the information, declining to do so could increase the likelihood that they will encounter patdowns or questioning at security checkpoints, a TSA official said. May 4, 2005

TSA overlooks weapons in favor of nail files. After showing proper identification, an FBI agent recently carried her gun on board an airplane, but Transportation Security Administration officials still confiscated her nail file out of fear it could be used as a weapon, the New York Times' Joe Sharkey writes. That is just an example of what Sharkey dubs "The TSA Follies." May 4, 2005

Many airport screeners do not get proper training, report says. Thousands of airport security screeners are not getting the training they need to detect weapons, according to a government report. Many screeners miss training sessions because checkpoints are understaffed and because training centers lack high-speed Internet access, USA TODAY reports. May 3, 2005

Universities add homeland security classes; government funds effort. Universities are adding undergraduate- and graduate-level classes in homeland security, the Washington Post reports. The Department of Homeland Security now spends $64 million on university programs. Homeland Security will become the government's largest employer in the next decade, noted Steven R. David, director of the homeland security program at Johns Hopkins University. May 2, 2005

State Department will redesign passport technology to protect against theft. The State Department will redesign new passport technology to minimize the risk of identity theft, the Washington Post reports. Tests revealed that technology could leave the documents vulnerable. Officials said the changes could delay plans to start issuing the passports later this year. May 2, 2005

New Baltimore terminal to feature high-tech baggage system. Baltimore-Washington International Airport will have one of the most advanced baggage sorting systems in the U.S. when the first phase of a new terminal opens May 18, the Baltimore Sun reports. The system, which will include 32 laser tag readers and six X-ray bomb-trackers, is part of a $1.8 billion expansion program. May 10, 2005

FedEx helps government fight war on terror. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, FedEx has helped the government improve homeland security, the Wall Street Journal reports. It has opened its international database to the government and created a police force that works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is also encouraging workers to report suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security. May 26, 2005

Spain is to tighten up on its security checks. It is now law that all boarding passengers must show their national identity cards or passports to verify that their identities correspond to the data on their tickets and boarding cards. This new regulation, introduced by Spain's Civil Aviation Agency, will apply to all flights, domestic and international. Iberia says that passengers using automatic check-in machines or who check in online must show their identity documents only at boarding gates. http://www.Iberia.com May 27, 2005

Private flights to Reagan National will resume. Federal officials will allow private flights at Reagan National Airport to resume by the end of the summer. The new Reagan safety requirements are the strictest in the U.S. Crews and passengers will go through extensive background checks, and armed security guards must be on board. Flights can land at Reagan only if they come from one of 12 designated airports. May 26, 2005

Lawmakers will press forward to lift Reagan National aircraft ban. Lawmakers will continue pursuing legislation that would lift a ban on corporate planes flying into Washington Reagan National Airport, the Washington Post reports. Earlier this week, a small plan entered Washington restricted airspace, spurring an evacuation of the White House and Capitol buildings. May 13, 2005

Officials may keep ban on small planes in place after scare. Federal officials are reconsidering plans to end a ban on small planes flying in and out of Reagan National Airport after a Cessna flew close to the White House on Wednesday, the Washington Post reports. The incident prompted an evacuation of the White House and the Capitol. May 12, 2005

Thomas Cook Airlines has praised police and the courts after a man was sentenced to seven months at Hove, Lewes Crown Court for disobeying the lawful command of the Captain and endangering an Airbus A330 aircraft with 335 passengers and crew on board. Sussex Police met the aircraft after the Captain called ATC at Gatwick for police assistance, when the man (drinking his own alcohol) became abusive and threatened cabin crew and fellow passengers. The Captain ordered his crew to use restraining kits to safeguard the rest of the team, passengers and aircraft. During the incident, crew members were severely scratched, had clothes ripped and were subjected to long periods of abuse. Sussex Police at Gatwick Airport finally boarded the plane when it touched down and then arrested the man. Thomas Cook Airlines points out that they (in common with other carriers) operate a zero tolerance policy towards unacceptable behavior. The airline says that the punishment sends a very clear message that both the courts and police will not tolerate it either. In another incident an easyJet passenger, who sexually molested two air stewardesses and behaved in a "boorish" manner, as last week sentenced to eight months. Police detained Boan d'Arc of Edinburgh, after flight crew radioed ahead to officers at Gatwick Airport about his behavior. Air travelers cheered as police boarded the plane to arrest him. http://www.thomascook.com May 27, 2005