Airports seek billions for new baggage screening systems

The overwhelming majority of airports nationwide need more federal funding to install advanced baggage screening systems, and almost two dozen still fail to meet a congressional mandate to electronically screen all baggage, officials said Wednesday.

Lawmakers and aviation industry officials want the Transportation Security Administration to do more to help airports install in-line explosive detection systems, which can screen hundreds of passenger bags simultaneously.

"TSA's current baggage screening system has shown no ability to adapt or keep pace with the ever-changing demands of the aviation industry," Rep. John Mica, D-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, said during a hearing Wednesday. "Worst of all, the hodgepodge system that [currently exists] has a poor performance record …prolonging the inefficient, inconvenient and labor-intensive system we have in place now is simply not an option."

Up to $5 billion more in federal funding is needed to install in-line systems at airports across the country, said David Plavin, president of Airports Council International-North America. The aviation industry maintains that it is the federal government's responsibility to fund the entire cost of installing the systems, although airports have agreed to provide a local match of 10 percent for large and medium hubs and 5 percent for smaller airports.

"The best path forward, in our view, to more effective, efficient and secure airport baggage screening is one where federal resources and standards pave the way guided by local experience and management," Plavin said.

Officials said installing in-line systems would reduce overall operational and personnel costs in the long run. For example, Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky., estimates that its in-line system will save $3 million per year.

Only 18 of the nation's 440 commercial airports will have installed in-line systems by 2006, said Randy Null, TSA's acting assistant administrator for aviation operations. He said the agency is developing an "in-depth, cost effectiveness analysis" to determine additional funding for in-line systems.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said 22 airports have yet to meet a congressional mandate that they electronically screen all passenger bags. The number of airports not meeting the deadline is supposed to remain secret, but DeFazio mistakenly stated it during his questioning.

Lawmakers and industry officials also want TSA to increase how much it reimburses airports for security improvements. To date, the agency has signed eight letters of intent (LOI) to provide funding to nine airports for improvements.

Under Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization legislation passed by Congress last year, TSA is required to cover 90 percent of costs associated with security improvements at all airports. TSA, however, plans to cover only 75 percent of costs at large airports and 90 percent for all other airports, according to Null.

"Continuing the current 75 percent cost share level will permit TSA to use its available funding to support the current LOI airports, as well as provide resources for additional projects necessary to maintain security at airports that do not require an LOI," he said.

Plavin said the Office of Management and Budget also is preventing TSA from issuing more LOIs.

"It is our sincere hope that OMB will quickly move past what we believe is a shortsighted view of this problem and focus on the long-term benefits that can be achieved by immediately investing to make the terminal modifications necessary to accommodate EDS equipment," he said.