McCarran boss to testify in Washington

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 | 8:56 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A recent increase in airline passengers' long waits to get through security at McCarran International Airport will be brought to Congress' attention this week.

Randy Walker, director of McCarran and the Clark County Department of Aviation, will testify before a House Transportation Aviation Subcommittee hearing Thursday. The committee is looking at the progress and problems in passenger and baggage security screening.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., who sit on the subcommittee, sent a letter to Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., on Jan. 27 requesting the hearing and recommending Walker's appearance.

"We believe that the current procedural and staffing inefficiencies have the potential to seriously disrupt passenger traffic arriving to and departing from our community and harm its economic well-being," the letter stated.

Berkley spokesman David Cherry said unusually long waits after the Consumer Electronics Show ended last month prompted the request. The show annually draws more than 100,000 people.

Walker will talk about passenger security checkpoints, and other experts will address baggage screening and other security concerns.

Soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress created the Transportation Security Administration, which has since federalized 451 commercial service airports. The new agency put in place explosion detection systems and machines at airports around the country.

Walker said McCarran is one of the first major airports to see traveler traffic almost equal to those before the terrorist attack. "We're at about 98 percent, almost to 100 percent," he said.

But the return of passengers also brought longer waits to go through security checkpoints than before, even though more security lanes have been added.

In January, Walker said lines as long as two or three hours appeared at security checkpoints during peak travel times.

A security review last month showed lanes screened 2.8 people per minute, less than the 3.5 people per minute rate the airport usually sees, Walker said.

Porter spokesman Adam Mayberry said the congressman is concerned about any problems at McCarran since it is the "lifeblood of tourism" for the state.

Porter will be looking for a general overview of security at airports on Thursday as well as what the TSA can do to help passengers can better prepare themselves for the security process.

Cherry said Berkley has similar goals.

"The goal is to make sure passengers are being adequately screened and not to compromise safety," Cherry said. "The hearing will provide a record of the need and possible solution to speed up the security process while maintaining safety."

Steve McHale, deputy administrator of the Transportation Security Administration; Angela Gittens, director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department; Tom Jensen, president and chief executive officer of the National Safe Skies Alliance; and three other witness will also speak at the hearing.