FAA Has Made Progress, but Full Implementation Will Take Years

As we reported in April 1998, FAA has made progress in a number of critical areas to improve aviation security as recommended by the Commission and mandated by the Reauthorization Act. However, the agency has experienced delays of up to 12 months in completing the five efforts we reviewed: passenger profiling, explosives detection technologies, passenger-bag matching, vulnerability assessments, and the certification of screening companies and the performance of security screeners. We found that delays were caused by the new and relatively untested technologies, limited funds, and problems with equipment installation and contractors’ performance. I will briefly discuss the status of these five initiatives and the actions that FAA and others need to take before they can be fully implemented. In 1996, we stressed that it is important for the Congress to oversee the implementation of FAA’s security measures. Regrettably, after the commission investigating Pan Am Flight 103 issued its report, activity began to wane and not much progress was made. Additional copies are $2 each.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO discussed its recent review of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) implementation of five key initiatives: automated passenger profiling, explosives detection technologies, passenger-bag match, vulnerability assessments, and certification of screening companies and improvement of screeners' performance.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) FAA has made some progress in five critical areas as recommended by the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security and mandated by Congress; (2) given the current implementation schedule, it will take years for FAA and the aviation industry to fully implement the initiatives; (3) to date, FAA has encountered delays of up to 12 months in implementing these initiatives, in part because they are more complex than originally envisioned and involve new and relatively untested technologies; (4) delays have also been caused by limited funding and problems with equipment installation and contractors' performance; (5) while progress is being made in strengthening aviation security, the completion of the current initiatives will require additional financial resources and a sustained commitment by the federal government and the aviation industry; (6) because momentum and public attention began to subside after the downing of Pan Am Flight 103, sufficient progress did not occur; and (7) to avoid a similar situation, congressional oversight and commitment are important.