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CNN Live Today

New Study Finds Lapses in Aviation Security

Aired March 26, 2002 - 14:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the issue of airport security and the threat of terrorist attacks in the post-9/11 landscape. We told you yesterday about an undercover investigation between November and February at 32 of the nation's largest airports. Government investigators able to smuggle guns past security screeners 30 percent of the time, knives passed 70 percent, simulated explosives made it through security about 60 percent of the time. Also, we're told through that study, 48 percent of the undercover testing, investigators gained access to airport tarmacs or secretly boarded aircraft.

Jim Hall, former chairman of the NTSB, the National Transportation Safety Board, now on a task force working to improve airline security, with us here live today in Atlanta. Good to see you again.

JIM HALL, FORMER CHAIRMAN, NTSB: Nice to see you.

HEMMER: This story when it crossed really took a lot of people off guard. Did it take you off guard as well?

HALL: No. We've had serious problems in aviation security. It's been documented by two presidential commissions. And I think it's very important that we don't overpromise the American people on what can be accomplished.

HEMMER: How so?

HALL: Well, it seems to me that we are moving in a direction of trying to put all of our resources into hiring individuals rather than investing in the technology that is going to really address the type of solutions. We're on a path right now, Bill, that we would end up with four times as many baggage security screeners as we're going to end up with air traffic controllers.

HEMMER: You bring up the same point that an aviation expert yesterday talked about, and that's the issue of technology. What is out there? What can be used? What's developed? What can be implemented?

HALL: Well, we all fly in America. And let me tell you, we fly safely, because we have a system that is redundant. There are layers of safety that are built into the system. We need to do the same thing with security. And aviation safety is very dependent on technology. There are technologies that we need to invest in that will address the security matter much -- I believe much more effectively than hiring a large federal contingent of employees without even the requirements that they have a high school education.

HEMMER: What is the bottom line, Jim? Is it a question of cost at this point, then?

HALL: I think it's a question of direction. I think we need to get a new direction from Congress on what we're doing. We can't have a system in which every passenger is treated, you know, as a potential threat. We need to use biometric cards and other technologies so that we can winnow down the individuals that are actually threats to the system. And we need to have a redundant system. We just don't need to have it totally dependent on baggage screeners.

HEMMER: Yes, I apologize for the interruption. You're saying instead of a random system, which we see by and large right now used at airports, make it more specific. Some may think that as a case for profiling. Is that what you're suggesting?

HALL: Well, obviously, the commission that I was on after TWA 800 looked at profiling as a legitimate tool that could effectively be used. It's been used by the Customs Service. Obviously, it needs to be put in place with certain concerns and safeguards in terms of civil liberties. But it's basically common sense.

HEMMER: What you're working on right now, recommendations will come out of that and you will say what to the White House and to the aviation industry, and you pointed out Congress, to Congress?

HALL: There are a number of task force in Washington that are looking at how we can address the overall threat. Obviously, when we talk about the threat, we have to look at our whole transportation system. And so we're hoping that we will be able to come up with recommendations that will help the government prioritize the threat and efficiently and effectively use resources.

HEMMER: What's your time frame?

HALL: Well, I -- the task force I hope will have a report by the end of the year.

HEMMER: Got it. And quickly here, even though we're talking about this, by and large, airline travel in this country is still a pretty safe way to go.

HALL: Listen. The most -- the thing that that has made it so safe is what happened the day after 9/11. And that was changing the philosophy that the aircrews, you know, voluntarily cooperated with any individuals that were hijackers. Now we have a system in which all of us have taken the responsibility. We've seen the actions of passengers and crews together to look after our safety. But we have a whole system out there of charter aircraft. We have the largest, obviously, general aviation fleet in the world. There's a lot of things that we are going to have to address. We have to make a wise use of our resources or we're going to literally bankrupt our country over this one particular area.

HEMMER: It has been a very costly wake-up call, that's for sure. Jim Hall, thanks.

HALL: But it's one we can address.

HEMMER: You are right there. Thank you, sir.

HALL: Thank you.

HEMMER: Thanks for coming in and sharing and talking with us.

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