| Page 2 of 2 < |
Early Confusion Abates; Random Checks May Persist
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Some airline industry officials said they did not expect TSA to continue to ban liquids and gels once officials got a better handle on security threats. They said it would be impractical and inconvenient for passengers in the long run.
"We don't think, and the TSA doesn't think, this is going to be a permanent event," said James C. May, president of the Air Transport Association of America, which represents many U.S. airlines.
Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, said he appreciated quick action and hoped better measures were put in place soon.
"If one week from today we're still having three-block-long security lines looking for toothpaste and everybody is the same threat, then they will have overdone it," Woerth said, adding that he was concerned that the government's first response to such incidents is to "paralyze the system."
"No system can survive if everyone is treated like Osama bin Laden himself," he said. "We need to move away from that kind of system. Is this forever, at every airport, everyday? We're going back to two-hour security lines and missed connections. What are we doing here?"
But others said TSA might not have a choice.
David M. Stone, the former TSA administrator, said federal authorities should consider banning such products until they can develop the technology to counter the explosives at checkpoints. Outside experts said current X-ray machines cannot differentiate between liquid explosives and shampoo, for example.
And some bomb-detection devices at check points do not always catch liquid explosives.
"The measures that were taken by the Department of Homeland Security to prohibit certain items need to be looked at until technology catches up," Stone said. "Those items need to be prohibited."
Airport officials said it might not matter if the ban continues because passengers reacted quickly to the new rules.
"You should see some improvements," said Charles Chambers, who heads security at Airports Council International-North America, which represents airports. "That's what we have historically seen . . . when people make their adjustments."
