Government backs security perks for frequent fliers By Alan Levin and Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY WASHINGTON =97 The government supports less security screening for some=20 frequent fliers willing to undergo background checks, a top security=20 official told a Senate committee Tuesday. James Loy, acting head of the=20 Transportation Security Administration, also said for the first time that=20 as many as 35 airports will not meet a Dec. 31 deadline to begin screening= =20 all checked bags with explosive-detection machines. In testimony delivered= =20 a year after terrorists seized four jets, Loy proposed several policy=20 shifts. He also asked Congress for more money to meet its ambitious goals.= =20 Reversing TSA's position, Loy said he will implement a so-called registered= =20 traveler program. Details about how the program would work have not been=20 finalized, he said. Loy said these travelers will be given some sort of=20 "reward," most likely lines that move more quickly than regular screening=20 lines. But he cautioned that they will still receive security checks. Airlines, pilots and frequent fliers applauded Loy's decision. "We're glad= =20 that they're looking more closely at a known traveler program," said David= =20 Messing of Continental Airlines. Continental is testing a similar system to= =20 speed check-in for frequent fliers. Airport executives have warned that the deadline for screening checked=20 luggage will not be met. But Loy's testimony was the first official=20 indication that some airports will need waivers. Loy vowed to maintain=20 "very, very robust" security. He said they will be able to examine all=20 checked bags by the deadline, but at some airports it will be impossible to= =20 scrutinize every bag with an explosive-detection device. Though the number= =20 of airports that cannot meet the deadline is fewer than 10% of those=20 covered by the law, Loy said some large airports are included. TSA=20 officials declined to identify specific airports, but senators said they=20 include Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Las Vegas McCarran=20 International Airport. In other testimony, Loy said: =B7 A task force of law enforcement and aviation officials recommended= =20 that pilots not be armed with lethal or non-lethal weapons. The task force= =20 raised concern about costs, safety and legal issues of how the weapons=20 would be carried after flights. Both the House and Senate have supported=20 arming pilots. =B7 The TSA has hired 32,000 airport screeners and will meet the Nov.= =20 19 deadline for providing federal screeners at all commercial airports. =B7 By late this year, the TSA will need to hire more people than the= =20 current limit of 45,000 employees imposed by Congress. The agency also=20 needs more money. Last week, it requested $546 million in additional= funding. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (Trini Tuner http://www.trinituner.com/ (TriniTuner.com) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************