By Calvin Biesecker
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this week said it will begin airport employee screening pilot programs at seven airports in May, taking a look at various methods and capabilities to learn how best to increase airport security.
“These pilots will give us important information as we evaluate the best way to secure the operations side of the airport,” Kip Hawley, TSA administrator, said in a statement on Monday.
The pilot programs are broken down into three types and will take place at seven airports over a 90-day period. The project is mandated by Congress in the FY ’08 Omnibus Appropriations Act with $15 million provided for the effort.
Under the 100 percent perimeter screening pilot, which will occur at Logan International Airport in Boston, TSA plans to accomplish 100 percent employee and vehicle screening at airport perimeter entrances. The agency also plans to use biometrics to control access for airport employees.
TSA also plans to pilot checkpoint screening techniques to accomplish 100 percent physical employee screening at Jacksonville International Airport, Fla., and Craven Regional Airport, N.C. TSA says the screening will occur between the public area and secure side of the airports and may involve either existing checkpoints or ones set up for the pilot.
Finally, under the enhanced security screening title, TSA plans to use random screening, behavior detection, employee security awareness training and portable screening equipment at four airports in Denver, Kansas City, Eugene, Ore., and Southwest Oregon. In addition, TSA will use biometric access control at Denver International.
The screening under the pilot programs is more systematic than what TSA currently does. Current airport employee screening measures include random and roving screening, checkpoint screening for certain populations and surge inspections. TSA also says it has improved the airport employee badging process by requiring that all employees get a clear security threat assessment before receiving a badge. TSA is also auditing airport badging offices to verify that the threat assessments are being done.
TSA is supposed to report to Congress by Sept. 1 on the cost and effectiveness of the pilot programs at each airport. More than 100 airports expressed interest in participating in the pilots.