Editorial: Airline security is a sham

Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 | 4:26 a.m.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to implement stricter security measures after the Sept. 11 terrorist hijackings. One of those directives told the airlines to scan all checked baggage for explosives. Last week Kenneth Mead, the inspector general for the Department of Transportation, checked the compliance of 20 airports that were deemed to be at the highest risk. Mead, who reported his findings to Congress on Thursday, found that the airlines at seven of these 20 airports had high-tech bomb detection machines that were underused or idle.

It is hard to believe that the airlines, after the terrorist hijackings that claimed more than 5,000 lives, wouldn't be screening this baggage with the utmost scrutiny. Then again, this isn't anything new for the industry, which before Sept. 11 had adopted a lackadaisical attitude to the screening of checked baggage. In July, the latest month for which figures are available, the bomb detection machines at U.S. airports screened on average about 350 bags per day, which is significantly below what they're capable of screening: 150 bags an hour. Mead believes that the reason for the limited use of this technology is that the airlines don't think passengers would accept the inconvenience of possible delays. The irony is that many passengers are afraid to get back on planes because they don't believe the security is as tough as it should be. In effect, the publ ic is saying the more inconvenience the better when it comes to security.

It's not just inadequate screening of checked baggage that's troubling. Planes still are flying that don't have reinforced cockpit doors. And the airport security personnel are the same low-paid employees who were there before Sept. 11. There isn't genuine security in the airline industry. Passengers, for the most part, are just as vulnerable as they were before. The passengers, by default, have become the security force for the airlines.

Legislation did pass the Senate unanimously on Thursday that would strengthen airline security. Under the bill, planes would have to be equipped with cockpit doors that only are accessible to pilots, more armed federal marshals would have to be on planes and the FAA could allow pilots to carry guns. Most importantly, the federal government would be given the responsibility to train, hire and supervise all airport security workers, who would become employees of the Justice Department. Currently the airlines are responsible for this, but they use low-cost bidding to hire outside security firms to provide the service. This has resulted in poorly trained and poorly paid workers.

The legislation should have sailed through Congress two weeks ago, but it is getting caught up in partisan politics in the House. GOP leaders believe that airport security should continue to be privatized, even though the events of Sept. 11 clearly demonstrate that air safety is a national priority -- and involves national security, too -- and should be treated as such. Whether it's providing police protection or fire protection, we want government to provide that service. Privatizing those essential services would be out of the question. Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., put his finger on the issue. "No one is putting in measures to privatize the Capitol police or the Secret Service. We are going to give some protection to the traveling public," Hollings said.

Despite the overwhelming vote in the Senate, prospects for getting these reforms in place don't look good. The Republican House leadership is refusing to take up the legislation because currently it doesn't have the votes to stop the federalization of airport security employees. President Bush also has indicated he has concerns about federalizing airport security personnel, but at least he has acknowledged that the federal government should have greater oversight than it does now. It's time to break the logjam. The president and the GOP House leaders should get on board and back the Senate legislation that properly confirms that airport security should be the federal government's responsibility.

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