Fri, Jul 15, 2011
Airlines Hope To Cooperate With TSA On Efficiency And
Cost-Effectiveness
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry
trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, expressed its
commitment to continue to work cooperatively with the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to implement a
risk-based security regimen and deliver a more efficient and
cost-effective system.
"Effective, efficient security is vital to the U.S. airline
industry in fulfilling our central role in propelling commerce and
the economic vitality and global competitiveness of our country,"
said ATA President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio in testimony before
the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation
Security. "Our members appreciate the collaborative relationship
that we have with TSA. Allowing TSA to focus its finite resources
on the greatest threat is both good policy and good security."
Calio identified three risk-based programs, supported by ATA,
which will allow TSA to focus its resources on the greatest
threats, simultaneously speeding up the security process for
passengers, crews and cargo:
- Known Traveler Program - Under this proposed program,
passengers would volunteer pertinent information, enabling TSA to
create an alternative type of vetting for them and leverage the
additional passenger information. "This program should not simply
allow certain passengers to go to the front of the line. Rather,
TSA should use current information databases to create an expedited
security regime for these travelers," Calio said.
- Known Crewmember Program - Working with TSA and the Air Line
Pilots Association (ALPA), ATA will begin a 90-day pilot program
next month at seven U.S. major airports. The program uses a pilot's
photo ID to verify identity and employment status by checking it
against a secure database. "Moving crew out of the regular security
line has the dual benefit of enabling TSA staff to focus on
potential threats and speeding up the security process for
passengers," Calio said. He also stated that ATA wants this program
extended to flight attendants.
- Known Shipper Programs - ATA members have met the requirement
that 100 percent of air cargo departing U.S. airports be screened.
ATA is working with TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
toward further risk-based screening of international inbound air
cargo. "The goal is for TSA and CBP to receive and process
information about shippers earlier than currently required,
allowing resources to be focused on elevated-risk cargo," Calio
said.
ATA reported that its members and passengers paid $3.4 billion
in taxes and fees to the Department of Homeland Security, $2
billion of which went to the TSA in 2010, a 50 percent increase
from nearly a decade ago. ATA says aviation security taxes and fees
now constitute almost 25 percent of the industry's federal tax
burden.
"This is an enormous contribution from one segment of the
private sector, for what is clearly a national responsibility. No
other industry or mode of transportation is singularly responsible
for funding security costs as the airline industry and our
passengers do today. This must change. The costs associated with
that security should be borne by the federal government," Calio
said.
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