February 16, 2005

By John M. Doyle

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin a pilot program to test a new type of explosives detection system (EDS) machine in March, TSA Administrator David Stone told Congress Feb. 15.

The recently certified Reveal Imaging Technologies' CT-80 will be tested at three unidentified airports for 60 days starting sometime next month, Stone said. He likened the technology to "a mini-CAT scan device."

"It gets us away from the explosives trace devices which are manpower intensive," Stone told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "It gives you a higher-quality security, so we're going to be hearing a lot about the Reveal type technologies in coming months...and how that's our future."

The TSA in mid-January certified the CT-80, which uses computed tomography technology. Reveal Imaging Technologies Corp., of Bedford, Mass., joined L-3 Communications and GE, through its purchase of InVision Technologies, as the only TSA-certified EDS manufacturers.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) urged quicker screening technology development "or the airlines will never fully recover, as long as there's extreme inconvenience that passengers are experiencing."

The airline industry lost about $10 billion last year, according to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the committee chair. He criticized TSA plans to increase aviation security fees on airline tickets.

"Is this the right time to add another $1.5 billion in fees to an industry that already pays...$15 billion in taxes and fees to a variety of government agencies?" Stevens asked.

Several other senators complained about the increased fees, saying they would hurt already economically suffering airlines or residents of rural areas who cannot obtain direct flights and would have to pay even more.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the ranking member, complained that the TSA was not spending enough money on maritime and rail security, as well as protection for mass transit and energy pipelines. He noted that 90 percent of the TSA's $5.6 billion budget request for fiscal 2006 — $4.7 billion —- was devoted to aviation security.

Stone said the additional passenger charge was a user fee to shift the burden of paying for aviation security from general taxpayers to those who actually use the airlines. Under the fee increase, expected to raise $1.5 billion, air travelers would pay about 57 percent of the cost, up from 20 percent. Airlines would continue to pay 7 percent.

Stone also said: * The use of commercial aircraft by terrorists as either the delivery system for an attack or the target of one remains the greatest transportation security risk;

* The Transportation Sector Specific [security] Plan, due to be delivered to Congress April 1, was being reviewed by industry groups;

* The TSA had reached an agreement with Florida's Orlando International Airport to set up the first private sector-registered traveler program (HSD, Oct. 20, 2004).