Transportation Security Administration Announces Deployment of Federal Passenger Screeners at Three Additional Large Airports

TSA 69-02
Tuesday July 30 2002
TSA Press Office: Heather Rosenker
Tel.: (202) 385-1254

Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Security James M. Loy announced today that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will deploy federal passenger screeners to all checkpoints in an airport in Connecticut and in Ohio and to two terminals in Orlando International Airport in Florida on Tuesday July 30 2002.

The three airports are: Bradley International Airport (BDL) Hartford CT; Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) Columbus OH; and Orlando International Airport (MCO) Orlando FL. The federal passenger screeners serving in these airports are part of a national mobile screening force that will assist with the training and transition to the permanent workforce.

"Moving federal screeners into these three additional airports is yet another step toward meeting our November 19 deadline of a fully deployed federal screening workforce " said Acting Under Secretary Loy.

TSA also announced today the deployment of federal passenger screeners to Athens/Ben Epps Airport (AHN) Athens GA.

TSA now has federalized the checkpoints at 10 airports across the country. TSA deployed the nation's first federal passenger screeners on April 30 at Baltimore/ Washington International Airport. TSA also placed federal passenger screeners in Louisville KY and Mobile AL on June 26; in three terminals at John F. Kennedy NY on July 9; and in Kalamazoo MI Chicopee MA and Bedford MA on July 23.

The Transportation Security Administration which is responsible for civil aviation security is in the process of establishing federal security operations in the nation's commercial airports. TSA will deploy federal passenger screeners to commercial airports by Nov. 19 2002 and is responsible for having checked baggage-screening equipment in place by Dec. 31 2002.