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“TRACON” Author Urges Federal Takeover of Airport Security
“Ippy” Award-Winning Author and Air Travel Expert Paul McElroy Offers Airport Security Suggestions
Paul McElroy covered aviation as a reporter, including the crash of an American Airlines DC-10 in Chicago in May 1979. His debut novel, TRACON, about an air traffic control disaster, won awards from this publication and others. Nationally recognized as an air traffic control media expert, McElroy is frequently consulted to explain the consequences and implications of breaking news. He offers the following commentary on the pertinent topic of airport security:"As we so tragically discovered September 11th in New York and Washington, D.C., airport security doesn't just protect air travelers. It protects everyone. Emergency crews, office workers, priests, parents, children, the elderly. It is a national security issue and an inherently governmental function."
* The U.S. Customs Service secures our borders.
* The Coast Guard patrols our ports.
* The FBI safeguards our nation.
* Police protect our cities.
* And air traffic controllers - under the domain of the Federal Aviation Administration - help ensure safety in our skies.
In hindsight, requiring the airlines - the private sector - to protect our airports was a grievous oversight. Air carriers are ill-equipped to provide security, lack adequate training and intelligence resources, and have an economic incentive to pay for minimal protection. They are in the business of moving people. Safely, yes, but not to shield us from criminal intent.
President Bush wants to partially federalize security at our nation's airports. He advocates creating a federal organization with limited oversight of airport security. Under his plan, the government would assume responsibility for hiring screeners and setting training requirements, but the screeners would continue to work for private contractors.
This is a welcome step in the right direction, but it's not enough. Here are several reasons why:
1. Law enforcement agencies are reluctant to share sensitive intelligence with outside parties. On September 11th, the CIA and the FBI were looking for several of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks but did not convey that information to the airlines. Even with federal oversight, a private contractor likely would not be privy to such critical knowledge. *
2. One of the biggest problems with airport security is high turnover among screening employees. The president's plan would give the government authority over which private firms to hire (not necessarily the cheapest), but would lack control over wages and benefits-a key component in improving worker retention. * Airport security workers are responsible for saving lives. They deserve to be paid more than the people who flip burgers in terminal restaurants. Higher wages and benefits would also attract higher caliber labor. Many current screeners are not U.S. citizens * and tend not to observe human factors in the screening process. *
3. Contractors do not have the power to detain people at security checkpoints. They must call in a law enforcement officer when situations arise.
4. The FAA already oversees the firms hired by airlines to manage airport security checkpoints. This governmental-private sector partnership has proven to be woefully inadequate in carrying out its task. *
Opponents object to federalizing airport security primarily because of concern over money and expanding the government's role.
In my opinion, protecting our nation's airports is no different than protecting our borders, streets or cities. It is an inherently governmental function that should never have been privatized.
The airlines spend about $1 billion annually on security.* The FAA estimates that federalization would cost $1.8 billion. A small, additional levy on airline tickets could provide the needed revenue.
In 1996, The New York Times reported on a government advisory board finding: An increase of $2 on airline tickets would result in $1 billion to pay for airport safety. Even if this amount were doubled or tripled, the cost to travelers would be very reasonable compared with the significant benefits of better security.
* Read synopses of articles from the L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal, and N.Y. Times McElroy has gathered on his website.