Empty your pockets please.
Turn your head and cough.
Enjoy the flight.
Posted on 11/18/2010 5:11:35 AM PST by NRG1973
The backlash continues over those new TSA screening measures, and now one Central Florida airport has decided to go with a private security screening firm.
Orlando Sanford International Airport has decided to opt out from TSA screening.
"All of our due diligence shows it's the way to go," said Larry Dale, the director of the Sanford Airport Authority. "You're going to get better service at a better price and more accountability and better customer service."
Dale says he will be sending a letter requesting to opt out from TSA screening, and instead the airport will choose one of the five approved private screening companies to take over.
Congressman John Mica, who's expected to lead the powerful Transportation Committee next year, says the TSA is crying out for reform.
"I think TSA is overstepping its bounds," said Mica.
Dale says, if all goes as planned, the private security firm could take over in about 12 months.
Can they do this? I hope so.
This is a good trend. I like it.
This is a good start. Hopefully some major centers - O’Hare, Hartsfield, Kennedy, LAX? - will follow suit. To hell with the TSA and Napolitano.
Sounds awesome. :)
Kudos, but NOT FAST ENOUGH. Nor is it a warranty that the private companies will avoid indecent grope-em-ups and debasing porno-scanners.
Empty your pockets please.
Turn your head and cough.
Enjoy the flight.
Sounds to me like Disney, Universal Studios and Seaworld pulled a few strings and called in some favors.
You don’t mess around with taking away Mickey’s tourism monies I guess.
Free enterprise and sensible ideas...in Florida!
Completely shocked that our goverment allows this. I imagine if this caught on, Big Sis will start working to stem the tide. After all, there are government contracts in play that must be protec...err, I mean people that need to be protected.
Kennedy? Same story with New York, different names.
LAX? Same story, different names.
The Dems have been given a mandate to run those states into the ground, so it's unlikely that local governments would do anything to buck the trend.
TSA is a unionized Federal employment program nothing more. If we were serious about airline security we would do what the Israelis do. Also, the airlines should be responsible for their safety and security not the Federal Government.
Let all the airports opt out of TSA and then force Obama to watch Janet Napalitano going thru body scanners 24/7.
BVW, you are correct a private company could be just as bad as the TSA but...an airport authority can always fire a private company and bring in a better one. Its really difficult to fire a federal agency.
Also, I have a feeling that private companies will be far more customer oriented and flexible about the job because of the competitive nature of the private sector.
From what I've read, the "opt out" was a compromise reached when TSA was formed. Republicans wanted private security and Democrats naturally wanted SEIU federal workers. The compromise was that a given airport authority could opt out of the federal program. I don't know if there are time triggers or other baggage tied to it.
Terrorists will act and behave like they are on a Disney vacation returning home, will board planes at TSA exempt airports.
Sanford is a favorite airport for many travelers visiting the theme parks, many from the UK say they prefer to travel there right about this time of the year.
ANY flights from the UK should use bomb sniffing dogs, its almost impossible to fool the dogs and the trained handlers.
John and Ken (LA 640am) had a guest on Wednesday. He was a recognized aviation industry security expert. He addressed the issue of private firms taking over airport security.
His take on it was that it would do little good to have a private firm take over. His reasoning was this.
1. private firms are required to use the same equipment and methods, if they wish to be approved by the FAA
2. private firms have to pay the same salaries as the TSA
This being the case, he thought privatization would be a Pyrrhic victory.
He suggested statistical profiling should be implemented. Don’t base it on race or religion. Base it on groups that stats could prove are high risk.
Further he suggested frequent fliers should be able to submit to a background check and receive ID that would let them board without hastle.
He stated that non-frequent fliers could do so also, but the cost would be prohibitive.
He said he thought the minimal check would suffice for those not in the high risk groups, and that only the high risk groups should be subjected to the most extreme searches.
He made quite a bit of sense IMO.
Yes, they can opt out. It seems the republicans slipped this little opt out clause in the bill when they authorized TSA to take over.
Hire an Israeli company. I’d feel safe with them doing the security.
This is fantastic. I think all of us should call our favorite, local airport and ask them to do this.
They better do it quickly, I’m sure BO & Big Sis will change the rules to get all airport screeners under the UNION umbrella.
If people feel this is true then they will avoid flights to airports screened by private companies. Lets wait a year and see if that happens. If that doesn't happen it will be an indictment of the TSA run screeners.
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