Aviation and Airport

The U.S. and Israel will deepen cooperation on civilian aircraft protection
Israel was the first victim of a systematic terror campaign against its aviation (by the PLO in the late 1960s), so it has learned a thing or two about protecting passenger aircraft; the U.S. and Israel will now collaborate more closely in such protective efforts
- Read more
DHS finds major staffing problems at TSA
Report notes inconsistent screener/administrator ratios; staffing decisions are being made without regard to the size of the airport; inspector general recommends adjustments and singles out Hawaii for special notice
- Read more

CBS exposes cargo security weakness with a dummy bomb
Known Shipper program failed to prevent an unknown television producer from transporting a lead-line case in the hold of an American airlines flight; CBS was even able to dictate which flight would carry the cargo; although the box was invulnerable to canine or mechanical inspection, nobody tried to open it
- Read more
Airline industry objects to new passenger flight data proposals
DHS may ask airlines to provide flight manifests an hour before departure; industry says change from 15 minutes will result in economic hardship and offers a 30 minute compromise; controversy is also building over revised definition of “departure”
- Read more

Northrop Grumman decides to enter Navy UAV competition
Company proposes its Global Hawk for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program; cost remains an issue for widespread UAV deployment, but Navy sees much to gain in a technology with a long flight time and a high ceiling
- Read more
Montana inaugurates new anti-illegal immigration air facility
Predator B UAVs to join the Grand Falls Air Branch soon; development a triumph for embattled senator Conrad Burns; two other branches to open next year
- Read more

Israeli team helps LAX security planners with terminal redesign
2002 shooting prompted anxiety by both Israeli and LAX officials; physical layout of particular interest; preventing crowd formation and pushing back parking lots top the agenda
- Read more
Cory Lidle's death recalls similar historical events
Small planes crash into buildings far more often than one would expect; episodes at the Empire State Building, and in Tampa and Milan, show danger
- Read more

RFID suggested as solution for airport passenger tracking
A British research center is testing a method of attaching tracking devices to airline passengers; cards or tags, not implants, envisioned; system would be networked with cameras to provide comprehensive security awareness
- Read more
BearingPoint completes Irish e-passport project
Effort involved modifying existing Automated Passport System to accomodate facial recognition biometrics; project completed by 26 October U.S. visa waiver deadline
- Read more

New analytical technique for detecting liquid explosives
ASU professor set out to develop a more sensitive enzymatic detector for better management of diabetics, and realized that the technology may be used for quick and accurate detection of liquid explosives; and a good thing, too, as terrorists show a greater tendency to move away from commercial explosives toward home-made ones
- Read more
Raytheon wins $3.7 million phase 1 STIP contract
Award follows news of Rapsican success; company will help integrate Threat Image Projection Ready X-ray systems into STIP network; when complete, approximately 1200 TRX systems will be on-line at eighty airports nationwide.
- Read more

TSA no-fly list under scrutiny for over-enrollment
More than 30,000 people have asked to be removed due to error, yet TSA often fails to do so; DOJ is currently working to develop better procedures; linking the list to relevant biometric systems may be the best solution, if an enterprising company steps in to help
- Read more
Rapsican Systems wins $13 million phase two STIP contract
Following succesful tests, company will install its security networking software at airports nationwide; system monitors X-ray machines and metal and explosives detectors for maintenance and performance analysis; deal puts Rapsican in an enviable position for future security roll-outs
- Read more
Extensive testing behind new TSA liquid container rules
Officials attempted to replicate London bomb plot; by testing various quantities of explosive liquids, TSA officials found the level where damage could be done without imperiling an airplane; plastic-bag regulations to continue indefinitely
- Read more

More headlines