October 3, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

U.S. bolsters aviation security

LONDON, October 3, Graphic News: Only a few days after U.S. President Bush promised to set aside $500 million to help airlines reinforce cockpit doors, a number of airlines have begun taking steps to beef-up security.

American and United, the nationÕs two biggest airlines, have said that they will immediately begin installing steel bars on the cockpit doors of all their planes. Other airlines are set to do the same to protect pilots and calm nervous passengers.

ÒWeÕve gotta do what weÕve gotta do right now,Ó said Herb Hunter, a United pilot and spokesman for the airlineÕs branch of the Air Line Pilots Association. ÒItÕs a wonderful first step.Ó

About 40 different kinds of cockpit doors exist on the U.S. fleet, and about 7,000 aircraft may wind up receiving the initial modifications to strengthen those doors.

Two task forces on aviation security -- appointed by Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta -- have made a series of recommendations. In addition to fortifying cockpit doors within 30 days, they recommend limiting each passenger to one carry-on bag and one smaller item, such as a purse or briefcase; and modifying aircraft transponders -- which allow controllers to track a plane -- so they cannot be turned off during a hijacking.

Another recommendation is the creation of a ÒNational Travel Card,Ó a smart card that would allow passengers who agree to background checks to pass through airports without having their baggage inspected. The card would have a chip that would contain identifying information.

A new aviation security agency, which Bush announced last week, will be a part of the Transportation Department. The agency will integrate law enforcement and national security intelligence data with airline and airport systems -- including screening checks, employee background checks and passenger identification.

In a separate move, Bush has indicated to congressional leaders that he would not stand in the way of a federal takeover of airport security if that is what Congress wants. BushÕs contentious nod to federalization is a departure from his earlier insistence that baggage screening remain a function of private security firms, with stronger federal oversight.

There is widespread support in the Senate and among House Democrats for some kind of federal takeover of airport security, but House Republicans remain opposed to creating a new layer of federal bureaucracy.

In an effort to build confidence, armed U.S. marshals are already being used on many flights and the FAA is training more of them. Other federal agencies are being asked to contribute armed plainclothes security officials. Many of the new officers will come from the Justice Department.

ÒWe need more marshals or military police or whatever we need to do to make sure the rest of the passengers are safe,Ó Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt said after meeting with President Bush at the White House.

Proponents of using guns to discourage hijackers say special ammunition, now available, can lessen the odds of puncturing a planeÕs fuselage in a shootout.

Sky marshals already use hollow-point bullets that spread on impact. Others propose using ÒfrangibleÓ ammunition, made of powdered tin and copper, that disintegrates if it hits an object harder than itself but will penetrate softer substances. Electric stun guns, that deliver a 50,000 volt surge that causes total loss of bodily function, are also being considered.

The National Guard will also be stationed at security checkpoints at all commercial airports after receiving training in airport security techniques from the FAA. The first National Guard troops will be deployed this weekend at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Other technologies under consideration include digital face recognition that can scan a crowd and match a face to hundreds of suspectsÕ faces in a database, and eye or finger print recognition Ð currently under evaluation at several U.S. airports.
/ENDS
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, UPI Visionics Corp