Problems Exist In Equipping Commercial Airports With Effective & Efficient Screening Systems By 2006
Washington, D.C. - Members of a Congressional Subcommittee and representatives of airports and screening equipment manufacturers today outlined the benefits of in-line explosive detection systems (EDS) and urged the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to accelerate the conversion of airports to these more effective and cost-saving systems.
Following the 9/11 attacks Congress established a December 31, 2002 deadline for 100 percent baggage screening at airports - this deadline was later extended by one year.
TSA uses two types of devices to screen checked baggage for explosives: explosive trace detection machines (ETD) and explosive detection systems (EDS). Some benefits of EDS machines are that they can be highly automated and networked, can scan several hundred bags an hour, and are less intrusive to passengers' privacy.
Most EDS machines, however, are deployed in airport lobbies rather than integrated "in-line" with the airport's pre-existing screening system. These machines have crowded airport lobbies and created safety and security concerns, decreased system efficiency, and unnecessarily increased TSA staffing requirements.
TSA's Current Baggage Screening System Has Shown No Ability To Keep Pace With Demands Of The Aviation Industry
"Unfortunately, in the rush to meet its Congressionally mandated deadlines, TSA created a hodgepodge system of explosive trace detection and stand-alone EDS machines," said U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee.
"TSA's current baggage screening system has shown no ability to adapt or keep pace with the ever-changing demands of the aviation industry. Worst of all, the hodgepodege system that employs trace explosive detection devices has a poor performance record.
"All together, our nation will only have 17 out of 441 commercial airports completed with in-line systems by 2006.
"I am very disappointed with Congress and the TSA for their lack of progress with this program. The limited investment analysis conducted so far clearly shows that capital investment related to in-line EDS systems significantly reduces personnel and maintenance costs, and in every case pays for itself in one to five years.
"Our analysis shows that, on average, in-line EDS systems at large hub airports operate at one-third of the cost of stand-alone lobby-based systems.
"Moreover, recent GAO and DHS Inspector General testing shows in-line EDS systems are much more effective at detecting threats than stand-alone EDS machines," Mica said.
Eight airports currently have in-line EDS systems (Boston, Boise, Manchester, Jacksonville, Lexington (KY), Orange County, Tulsa and Tampa); one airport has partially converted its system to in-line (San Francisco); and eight additional airports have signed letters of intent (LOIs) with TSA to fund in-line installation and have facility modifications underway (Denver, Dallas Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Los Angeles/Ontario, Seattle-Tacoma, Atlanta and Phoenix). TSA does not plan to issue any new LOIs or install any additional in-line systems under its fiscal year 2005 requested level of funding.
David Plavin, President of Airports Council International-North America, listed dozens of additional airports with identified funding needs for EDS installation and stated that dozens more have not yet developed or provided cost estimates.
"With passenger traffic quickly returning to record levels, we simply cannot afford to wait for a bad situation to turn intolerable," Plavin said.
"While it is true that the procurement and installation of EDS systems will require significant upfront expenses, those capital costs are relatively modest when compared to the extraordinary expenses necessary to pay for literally thousands of extra screeners year after year after year using today's model. We urge TSA to continue its work with airport operators and managers to ensure that proposed solutions and changes are really the best course at an individual facility."
In-Line System At Lexington, KY Airport Now Saves TSA $3 Million Annually
Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, KY is one of the eight airports that has converted to a fully integrated EDS system. The airport's executive director, Michael Gobb, highlighted the savings provided by the in-line system.
According to Gobb, the cost to install the airport's in-line system was just over $4 million more than the estimated cost of installing an in-lobby system. However, because of the in-lobby system's greater operating costs, the airport broke even after 16 months and TSA now saves approximately $3 million annually because of its investment in an in-line system at Blue Grass.
Allen Barber of L3-Communications, Inc., one of two TSA-certified EDS manufacturers, also testified that short-term savings offered by other screening options nevertheless lead to ultimately less cost-effective and less secure screening.
"One immediate way to improve security and TSA operating expenses is to replace explosive trace detection systems with fully automated EDS as originally envisioned," Barber said.
"As you know, trace detection, while cheaper initially, is far less effective in detection and is extremely manpower intensive. Utilizing trace detection not only expends a significant amount of time and labor, but it is overly intrusive to our traveling public, requiring a TSA screener to open and examine the personal items of our citizens. In contrast, an in-line EDS configuration allows baggage to be screened faster, more effectively and far less intrusively."
With current federal spending limitations, TSA was advised to explore all financing options available to them.
"Other government capital programs and almost all major investments by private industry, utilize longer term financing options to meet their needs," said Theresa Coutu of InVision Technology, Inc., the other TSA-certified EDS manufacturer.
"It is unusual and unnecessary to require up front funding from DHS annual appropriations of both EDS equipment procurement and EDS installation by airports (with LOI reimbursement). Financing options must be explored as a method of solving these funding problems."