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CNN Live Today

Interview with Billie Vincent

Aired July 01, 2002 - 12:04   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Security at some of the nation's largest airports is still being compromised. That is what a report by the transportation security administration shows. That report, obtained by "USA Today" indicates that screeners at 32 of the nation's largest airports failed to detect nearly a quarter of fake weapons taken through by federal agents.

Well, the tests are the first since the security agency took over airport security in February. According to the "USA Today" report, screeners failed to detect 24 percent of the potential weapons on federal agents and 30 percent of simulated bombs. Screeners at three airports, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and Las Vegas, failed to detect half of those weapons.

Joining us from Washington to talk more about the test and what it means to passengers is former FAA security director, Billie Vincent. Billie, Good to see you.

BILLIE VINCENT, FORMER FAA SECURITY DIRECTOR: Good to see you, Kyle.

PHILLIPS: All right. So are we talking about the people, here, or are we talking about the training?

VINCENT: Well, we're really talking about both. But, the people that were tested were those that were carried over from the private companies. But the basic problem on all of this, for years, has been a systems problem. Failure to require the proper and the right amount of training for these people. And it's really no better now, essentially, than what it was before.

PHILLIPS: So, what about -- OK we're talking about the careening process but also the X-ray machine. Is there a difference in training, here, when it comes to somebody who's supposed to be screening and someone who operates that X-ray machine.

VINCENT: Well, both of them are screening functions. At security checkpoint, you have metal detectors and you have X-rays. The training for the X-ray is much more intense or it should be and longer. And takes more skill. Except that a large part of the failure, apparent, in these tests were the failure of the people manning the metal detectors to then properly locate and deal with the alarms that were generated by the weapons or the simulated weapons that these people were carrying through. PHILLIPS: So, Billie, how difficult were these tests? Were these tests pretty easy or? Okay you're going to say yes. I can just see that right now.

VINCENT: Well, the Inspector General conducted some other tests, after 9/11, from November, December, January and early February, and the results were pretty miserable, and, now, the TSA comes along and does tests without artfully trying to conceal the objects that they are carrying through. The Inspector General's tests earlier did try to conceal those devices. And if you allow for that failure to try to artfully conceal in this last series of tests, there's really been no improvement.

And it's been a miserable performance for the last many years anyway. We really need to deal with this subject in a very concentrated and comprehensive fashion. Unfortunately, the new TSA, with the current requirements and the restrictions and the time frame and so on, are really not going to have time do that by the end of this year.

PHILLIPS: When these tests were done, basically they were conducted to see if the screeners could spot, you know, basic items. But what about the other type of training that these folks have to go to ? And that is looking at signals with regard to behavior, terrorist behavior. Was that tested at all?

VINCENT: No, and they are not really trained do that. The profiles that are applied in the United States, on the domestic scene, are computerized, and the human element that are applying those things really know nothing about them and are not trained do so. Where you see random selection of people pulled aside for screening at the screening check points are exactly that. Random selection, and, in some cases, probably, the application of choices by the screener. But they have no training to do that.

PHILLIPS: You can't help to ask about right now. Fourth of July coming up. People are getting ready to travel. What's being done right now to try improve the system? Anything?

VINCENT: Well, a great deal is being done. But a lot of it is wasted effort. Nowhere in the world would we engage for a billion dollars and roughly a billion dollars, three or four major world companies to implement a program where none of them have any subject matter experience. And that is what we've done with Lockheed Martin, on the one hand, and also with Boeing Siemens on the other when the equipment rolled out. Elsewhere this would be laughable. Now, what we'll finely wind up with may be a pretty good system long-term. But in the process, we're going to waste hundreds of millions of dollars. We're in -- we're in process of doing that at this moment.

PHILLIPS: I can see that's going to be our next interview. Former FAA Security Director Billie Vincent. Thanks, Billie.

VINCENT: You're welcome, Kyra. Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Well, the results of the tests varied widely among the airports. The worst performers were Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles and Sacramento. The best performer was Miami International Airport, and that's where we find CNN national correspondent, Susan Candiotti.

Susan, what did these folks do differently?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a good question, and we'd love to tell you the answer to that, Kyra. However, for now, officials here at Miami International Airport are not commenting on that despite fact that this is good news for them. They are referring all comments to the TSA at this time.

But let's show you a graphic until they are ready to talk to show you how well Miami performed. It performed with a six percent failure rate. Some of the other airports that did pretty well, Newark airport with a nine percent failure rate. Fort Lauderdale airport just about 30 miles away from here 10 percent. Honolulu also 10 percent. (AUDIO GAP) New York, a failure rate of 11 percent.

Now Miami International Airport is one of busiest airports, as I am sure can you imagine, nationwide, and acts as one of the main hubs to flight heading to Central and South America. Nationwide, it boasts the third highest passenger traffic for international passengers, but like other airport nationwide, it has taken a hit since the events of September the 11. For example, a snapshot for you. June 26, just last Wednesday, the passenger count here at the airport was down 11 percent from the year 2001. And while Miami International Airport did fare well in this particular test, it has taken a number of security hits in the past.

You might recall just a few years ago, major security breaches here at this airport. There was a huge drug bust here involving security problems that allowed drug traffickers to breach security, both on the concourse and on the tarmac, and as recently as January of this year, a firm that was hired to conduct security background checks for employees here was charged for failing do its job properly.

We do have a bit of news for you, however, Kyra. We have learned just moments ago that officials here will comment on this bit of good news for them for a change, in about a half hour from now. The Director - acting Director of the airport will be able to tell us, perhaps, why Miami thinks it did well in this particular security background check -- back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right Susan Candiotti thanks so much, and we'll bring that information to our viewers as soon as you get it, Susan. Thank you.

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