Is it safe to fly yet? A transportation official says there still are `alarming lapses of security' and `systemic vulnerabilities' associated with U.S. air travel. Should new airline-security laws calm our fears?

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Dec 17, 2001 | by Sheila R. Cherry

Nevertheless, the decision has been made and the transition is in progress. In the meantime officials navigating through the new roles and reforms might do well to understand why the public is edgy. The same old screener workforce "is out there today," FAA spokesman Takemoto says. "They've been trained [under the existing system] and they are in place.... So they are the [primary current] active workforce. That same [previous] mechanism of training is what they are operating under today."

Israeli Airport Inadequate Model

Even the most ardent proponents of increased airport security -- including the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the Consumers Union (CU) and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) -- have not suggested that other airlines mirror Israel's EI AI. Why?

EI AI, Israel's national airline, has not had a terrorist attack for 32 years. While Boston's Logan International Airport is consulting Raft Ron, a former EI AI security officer, few others consider Israel's draconian airline-security approach a model to follow. "Israeli citizens voluntarily give up certain rights when they are searched and questioned. The method is too severe for Americans," says Dawn Deeks of the AFA.

Others feel that comparison is unfair. "EI AI has only one major airport, with a few ancillary stations," says Sheryl Stein, EI AI's public*relations officer. While Israel's airport handles less than 50 flights a day, a normal load for many U.S. airports can exceed 2,000.

Still, as its safety record suggests, we might be able to learn a few things from Israel's government-owned but privately employed airline.

EI AI Security Measures

* All personnel with access to a plane are accompanied by guard

* Single women and non-Jews/Israelis are profiled

* Screeners are ex-military personnel

* Three-hour boarding procedures

* Armed undercover guards on all flights

* Meticulous carry-on baggage inspection

* Secret security procedures

* Changes flight schedule frequently

* Boarding-interview process

* All luggage goes through a pressurized box to detect pressure bombs

* Flights routed away from cities

Security Reforms Proponents Say They Want

Security Request                                Advocates   Compliance

P -- Air Line Pilots Association; F -- Association of Flight Attendants;
C -- Consumer's Union

1. Securing access to cockpit: dead
    bolts, fail-safe                            (P, F, C)    Some (S)
2. Updated employee security training:
    from 1970                                   (P, F, C)           S
3. Timely dissemination of intelligence
    information                                 (P, F, C)    None (N)
4. Standardize carry-on limitations:
    one bag                                     (P, F, C)           S
5. Limit employee access to sensitive
    areas                                       (P, F, C)           S
6. Prevent pilot uniform/credential
    duplication                                 (P, F, C)           S
7. Ban employment of convicted criminals        (F, C)              S
8. Eliminate curbside and offsite baggage
    check-in                                    (F, C)              S
9. Remove unclaimed or unattended baggage       (F, C)              N
10. Electronic employee IDs                     (P)                 S
11. ATC Com. Code: alerts nearby planes of
     distress                                   (P)                 N
12. Update common strategy: hijacking
     protocol                                   (P)                 N
13. Don't use planes to deport visa
     violators                                  (P)                 N
14. Remove pilot information from the
     Internet                                   (P)                 N
15. Publicity campaign: ensure public
     cooperation                                (P)                 N
16. Emergency hotline                           (P)                 N
17. Preparations for bio/chem attacks:
     air sensors                                (P)                 S
18. Cabin-to-cockpit communication system       (P)                 N
19. Allow pilots to carry necessary repair
     tools                                      (P)                 S
20. Ensure knowledge of all passengers
     onboard                                    (P)                 N
21. Photo of passenger w/baggage encoded
     on ticket                                  (P)                 N
22. Information of passenger capability:
     first aid ...                              (P)                 N
23. Certify flight attendants as safety
     personnel                                  (P)                 N
24. Standardize electronic ticket/check-in      (C)                 S
25. Improve security of connecting flights      (C)                 S
26. Revamp standing vehicle and delivery
     procedure                                  (C)                 S
27. Zero tolerance for threats and "air rage"   (C)                 N
28. Employ CFX bomb detectors on all baggage    (F)                 S
29. K-9 bomb-sniffing dogs at all airports      (F)                 S
30. Trained & certified aircraft-search
     personnel                                  (F)                 N

DATA COLLECTED AND PREPARED BY BRANDON SPUN, A REPORTER FOR Insight