ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 13, 1996 TAG: 9612130067
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Computer ``profiles'' of airplane passengers would look at their travel histories and possible criminal pasts to identify potential terrorists, under airport security reforms recommended Thursday.
A Federal Aviation Administration advisory panel, issuing a score of proposals to overhaul the nation's airport security system, called for the FAA to require tighter security measures from top to bottom.
``We can't feel complacent any longer, feeling that we in the United States are immune from terrorism. We are not,'' said Dick Lally, chairman of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, which made the recommendations.
The committee suggested greater use of high-tech equipment, bomb-sniffing dogs and trained security managers to detect explosive devices and materials among cargo, mail, baggage, carry-ons and travelers at U.S. airports.
The panel also urged FAA certification of designated airport security workers and better training of all airline and airport personnel to make traveling safer, calling employees ``the first line of defense.''
The committee, made up of 23 industry, government and public interest groups, suggested the federal government, and not the airline industry, pay for the increased security measures, saying it's a question of national security.
``Airports and airlines are surrogate targets. The real targets are the policies and government of the United States,'' Lally said.
The Office of Management and Budget immediately objected to such general funding, saying there isn't enough discretionary money.
The panel made other recommendations to the FAA, including:
* Match all baggage to passengers and screen any bags from suspected travelers by hand, X-ray, or explosive detection equipment.
* Test blast-hardened containers to hold cargo.
* Screen suspected profiled passengers with hand searches and explosive ``trace detector'' equipment, which is now mostly under development.
* Tighten definition of ``known shipper'' for cargo, profile companies and people and scrutinize shippers who pay cash or request specific flights.
* Tell the U.S. Postal Service to seek statutory authority to use automated explosive detection equipment on air mail.
* Seek access to the FBI's criminal record computer and FBI fingerprint checks to screen baggage and passenger checkers and workers who have access to secure areas.
* Study using intelligence agencies to help identify terrorists.
* Search all aircraft at airports the FAA designates as ``high risk.''
* Require high-traffic airports to have at least two explosives-sniffing dog teams and other bomb-detecting equipment.
* Require airports to designate security chiefs and set standards for training security workers, who would face testing.
So far, the airline industry has agreed with most reforms despite worries that increased security will mean flight delays and angry passengers.
``I think once everybody gets used to the security checks and once the system gets automated, the delays will disappear,'' said Bonnie Wilson, a member of the panel representing the Airports Council International-North America. ``And the passengers will appreciate feeling safer.''
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by AP. color.by CNB