NCJ Number
189767
Date Published
1998
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This document provides information on the tracking, monitoring, and coordinating activities undertaken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation industry on domestic aviation security.
Abstract
The FAA is responsible for implementing 21 of the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security’s 31 aviation security recommendations. The FAA has completely implemented the recommendation to give properly cleared air carrier and airport security personnel access to classified information they need to know. The FAA has largely implemented the recommendation to establish procedures for identifying passengers before they board an aircraft. The third recommendation -– to voluntarily establish a partnership between airport and air carrier officials and law enforcement agencies (known as a consortium) to implement security enhancements has not been expanded to an additional 200 airports beyond the 41 established by the Commission and is 15 months behind schedule. Expansion cannot occur until the FAA determines whether it can exempt the members of a consortium from penalties when the consortium self-discloses security violations. For the fourth recommendation, the FAA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have had short delays in implementing joint threat and vulnerability assessments at major airports because of the time it took the agencies to develop the approach for conducting these assessments. For the fifth recommendation, the FAA has begun to provide computer-based training for personnel who screen carry-on bags. However, it cannot complete this effort until it has issued regulations for certifying screening companies, which are expected to be issued in March 2000. Given that these recommendations involve new technologies, require the FAA to follow time-consuming rulemaking processes, and require the aviation industry to take action, further delays are possible. Appendix.