TSA Moves Closer To Secure Flight
By John M. Doyle
The Transportation Security Administration has moved a step closer to pre-screening all air passengers before they board their flights.
Secure Flight, the long-delayed computerized screening program, has begun requiring passengers to submit their full name when making airline reservations. Passengers will have to enter their names as they appear on the government-issued identification with which they will travel.
The new requirement, announced May 15, is the first step in shifting the responsibility for checking passenger names against government watch lists from the airlines to the federal government.
Since 2004, TSA has been working on the Secure Flight technology, recommended by the 9/11 Commission and required by a 2007 law. The second phase of the program is slated for Aug. 15, when passengers will be required to enter their date of birth and gender when booking flights.
TSA’s goal is to vet 100% of passengers on domestic commercial flights by early 2010 and all passengers on international commercial flights by the end of 2010.
Meanwhile, congressional auditors say Secure Flight has achieved nine of the 10 conditions set by Congress in order to move forward with the program. Those conditions include testing the efficacy and accuracy of search tools, emplacing a redress process for passengers claiming they were wrongly included on watch lists and developing security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the system by computer hackers. On the 10th requirement, developing appropriate cost and schedule estimates, the Government Accountability Office found Secure Flight has conditionally achieved Congress’ requirement. Conditional achievement means TSA has completed some key activities and has defined plans for reaching the remaining ones.
Photo: TSA
