Aviation and Airport

TSA to begin thorough background checks of 1.2 million aviation workers
TSA takes over from the FAA the task of background checks of 1.2 million U.S. aviation workers; this will be a “perpetual vetting,” as licensed aviation workers will be rechecked every time the Terrorist Screening Center’s database is updated, which happens almost daily
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TSA regulations create business, branding opportunities
Businesses typically prefer fewer rather than more government regulations, but some regulations are a boon to business; in evidence: TSA’s 3-1-1 travel rules, which led large companies such as Hefty and Glad – and start-ups such as 311Travel Bag – to meet the need for TSA regulations-compliant consumer products
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Perception psychologists come to the aid of airport security screeners
A small but growing field of vision and perception psychologists try to improve the performance of airport security personnel; playing video games would help, as would overcoming evolution-inspired (yes, yes — evolution) tendency to ignore extremely uncomon events
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DHS relaxes, backs off some Real ID requirements
In the face of persistent opposition from the states, DHS relaxes or backs off some provisions of Real ID, and extends deadlines for compliance; critics say this back-pedaling is but an attempt to deny that Real ID is dying
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Thanksgiving travelers face different wait-times at different airports
The average pre-screening wait time at U.S. airports shows these tendencies: Wait times at the busiest airports gets a bit shorter, while wait times at mid-size airports increases
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Paper-free air freight era begins
IATA launches six e-freight pilots; air cargo transports 35 percent of the total value of goods traded across borders, generating $55 billion for ailiners; e-freight will make air cargo more competitive
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U.K. to relax one-bag luggage rule
Following the terrorist alert of summer 2006, British aviation security authorities imposed a one-bag carry-on rule on passengers; this rule will soon be relaxed
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New baggage screening tool
U.K. researchers to combine scattered X-ray signals with high-resolution 3D X-ray images to give baggage screeners previously unseen information regarding luggage size, shape, and chemical composition of the contents contained in the luggage
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TSA tests Auto-EDS at BWI
Last week TSA sent randomly selected passengers at BWI to be screened by a new screening device from a Massachusetts company; the devices use computed axial tomography (CAT), similar to medical scanners
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DHS holds talks with U.K. minister, then detains him
Shahid Malik, U.K. minister for international development, detained at Dulles Airport after meeting with DHS to discuss tackling terrorism; this is the second time Malik, the first U.K. muslim minister, is detained by DHS at airport
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Air Force completes overhaul of global weather sensing system
USAF upgrades, improves global weather monitoring system, allowing “weather conditions almost anywhere to be factored into large-scale operations”
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Two more airports join the SPP program
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) was established by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) of 2001 to meet the requirement for the TSA opt-out program; eight airports are already participating
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Airports operators criticize TSA's background checks mandate
New TSA security initiative mandates government background checks of new airport hires, including sales clerks, waiters, and custodians; airport operators complain slowness of the checks leaves hundreds of positions unfilled
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DHS to inspect small boats, private jets
DHS is turning its attention to better screening of private boats and planes entering the U.S.; small boat inspection to begin with a pilot program in San Diego
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TSA adding black lights to screen passengers' ID cards
TSA expands program checking for forged ID by installing black lights and magnifying lenses to 1,300 specially trained screeners who check suspicious IDs in the ticket lines
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