Airport to leave federal screeners on the job

Jace Radke

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

McCarran International Airport officials plan to leave federal security officers at passenger checkpoints, despite a plan by the federal government that would allow the airport to use private security companies to do the job.

After reviewing a 20-page Transportation Security Administration document designed to provide guidance for airport managers considering a switch from federal security screeners to private security companies, Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker said he had more questions than answers.

"I just don't think there is enough information at this point," Walker said. "There are just too many questions. I won't ask the board (of Clark County Commissioners) to make a change for change sake.

"Based on the information we have I can't see a change being beneficial to the airport."

Walker said he wants the government to provide more substantive information that addresses questions about liability, flexibility and budget constraints.

Until he gets more answers, McCarran International Airport should not ask to use private screeners at security checkpoints, he said. He said it also may be best to wait and see how private screeners work at airports that do decide to apply for the change in November.

Walker got his first look at the TSA's plan last week with hundreds of other airport executives during a speech by Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson at the Las Vegas Hilton as part of the American Association of Airport Executives Conference.

The plan allows for airports to apply to use private screeners beginning on Nov. 19. Under the plan the TSA would choose the security company and manage and pay the screeners.

Hutchinson himself said that he didn't know if opting for private screeners would be advantageous to airports, citing information from five airports testing private screeners and reporting costs and effectiveness levels similar to those of federal screeners.

According to the TSA's guidance document airports will be able to apply to opt out of federal screening again in November 2005.

Walker said that the question of who is liable if something goes wrong with private screeners is something that many airport operators would like answered.

Walker also questioned how budget requests would work using private security instead of federal screeners.

There is a cap of 45,000 screeners nationwide, and the TSA is only budgeted to pay for that number of screeners whether they are private or federal.

"Is it going to be a one time allocation to pay for the screeners, and if a growing airport like McCarran needs to hire more screeners will money be made available for that?" Walker asked.

TSA officials said that the guidance document is not designed to answer all questions about opting out of the federal screener program, but is instead designed to give airport managers information to gauge their interest in applying.