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CNN Live At Daybreak
Look at Airport Security
Aired August 14, 2003 - 05:34 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: That undercover sting operation that led to the arrest of a British arms dealer is causing a stir in the airline industry. The dealer allegedly tried to sell a shoulder fired missile that could bring down a commercial jetliner.
Well, in the wake of the arrest, our Patty Davis looks at airport security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. military plans have counter measures to throw off shoulder fired missiles. So does Air Force One. Technology that some say could be used to protect passenger airliners now.
ROBERT DELBOCA, NORTHROP GRUMMAN: We could have an aircraft equipped and we believe FAA certified in approximately nine months.
DAVIS: Northrop Grumman's infrared laser system, on about 100 military C-17s and C-130s, detects and jams incoming missiles and sends them off target. Some military planes also use flares to draw away missiles that can hit a plane up to 15,000 feet in a matter of seconds.
JIM MAY, AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: The real problem is that no one has ever shown whether or not any of these air defense systems will work in a commercial aircraft environment, which is vastly different than a military aircraft environment.
DAVIS: Vastly different because, unlike military aircraft, commercial jets get more wear and tear. The concern is shared by the Department of Homeland Security, which says it's not convinced any current technology is a good fit.
(on camera): And at $1 million to $2 million apiece, outfitting all 6,800 U.S. planes with missile deflecting technology isn't cheap. Some law makers say the need is urgent and say taxpayers should foot the bill.
REP. JOHN MICA, (R-FL), CHAIRMAN, AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE: The alternative is not pleasant to think about. If one aircraft is brought down, think of what the effects of September 11 have also imposed on our society. It would be absolutely a disaster for aviation industry and our economy.
DAVIS: The Department of Homeland Security says it doesn't yet have a time frame for putting anti-missile devices on commercial aircraft. Officials are asking Northrop Grumman and seven other government contractors for their ideas on how to best protect U.S. airliners.
Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 14, 2003 - 05:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: That undercover sting operation that led to the arrest of a British arms dealer is causing a stir in the airline industry. The dealer allegedly tried to sell a shoulder fired missile that could bring down a commercial jetliner.
Well, in the wake of the arrest, our Patty Davis looks at airport security.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. military plans have counter measures to throw off shoulder fired missiles. So does Air Force One. Technology that some say could be used to protect passenger airliners now.
ROBERT DELBOCA, NORTHROP GRUMMAN: We could have an aircraft equipped and we believe FAA certified in approximately nine months.
DAVIS: Northrop Grumman's infrared laser system, on about 100 military C-17s and C-130s, detects and jams incoming missiles and sends them off target. Some military planes also use flares to draw away missiles that can hit a plane up to 15,000 feet in a matter of seconds.
JIM MAY, AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: The real problem is that no one has ever shown whether or not any of these air defense systems will work in a commercial aircraft environment, which is vastly different than a military aircraft environment.
DAVIS: Vastly different because, unlike military aircraft, commercial jets get more wear and tear. The concern is shared by the Department of Homeland Security, which says it's not convinced any current technology is a good fit.
(on camera): And at $1 million to $2 million apiece, outfitting all 6,800 U.S. planes with missile deflecting technology isn't cheap. Some law makers say the need is urgent and say taxpayers should foot the bill.
REP. JOHN MICA, (R-FL), CHAIRMAN, AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE: The alternative is not pleasant to think about. If one aircraft is brought down, think of what the effects of September 11 have also imposed on our society. It would be absolutely a disaster for aviation industry and our economy.
DAVIS: The Department of Homeland Security says it doesn't yet have a time frame for putting anti-missile devices on commercial aircraft. Officials are asking Northrop Grumman and seven other government contractors for their ideas on how to best protect U.S. airliners.
Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
