Press Release: Valuable Ideas Gathered at Hearing

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For Immediate Release:	September 24, 2001
Contact:	Senator John Cowdery at (907) 269-0222

(ANCHORAGE) - Representatives from all areas of the airline industry, ranging from a vice-president of a major airline to a local airport skycap, testified before the Senate Transportation Committee today, sharing ways to increase air safety, as well as concerns that some new policies established in the wake of the Sept. 11 jetliner hijacking by terrorists might be excessive.

"We have received a tremendous number of ideas and suggestions during this hearing and by email regarding airport and airline security," said Sen. John Cowdery (R-Anchorage), chair of the committee. "I am pleased at how willing the industry and the public are to come together and address this issue, and I ask that everyone be patient as we work out new and effective safety measures in the future."

Those testifying during the hearing identified problems and offered solutions. Pilots, delivery drivers and airport workers described gaps in airport safety and suggested how they could be filled. A local physician explained that de-pressurizing the airplane cabin can subdue passengers, a lighting specialist demonstrated a laser that doesn't cause damage but can temporarily blind a person and a number of people suggested ways to increase cockpit security.

A number of people advocated for the return of sky marshals and others suggested that pilots should be armed or that individuals with concealed-carry permits should be allowed to take their weapons on board aircraft. And several suggested that the responsibility for security should be transferred from the airlines to the federal government.

Cowdery agreed. "I don't think that we necessarily need FBI agents or federal marshals guarding the gates, but the federal government should be training and staffing these security points. Our national security should be a federal responsibility."

New policies created in the wake of the September 11 tragedy have had unintended consequences, such as a blanket Federal Aviation Administration rule excluding vehicles from a 300 foot buffer zone around airports that closed a nearby state highway in Wrangell. Regulations prohibiting mail or cargo on passenger planes temporarily grounded "combo" aircraft in Alaska that carry both cargo and passengers. And the decision by the airline industry to drop skycap and bag storage services at airports could cost jobs as well as the services that passengers depend on.

"The next few months and years are going to be a period of trial and error as we seek to improve security without unnecessarily sacrificing privacy or reasonable convenience," said Cowdery. "This is especially true here in Alaska, where our air travel and airports do not fit the mold of the Lower 48."

The committee will summarize the testimony from this hearing in a report sent to appropriate public and private officials as well as to Alaska's Congressional delegation. The summary will also be available on the Senate Transportation Committee web site at http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/22ndleg/sentrans.shtml.

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Attachments:

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HTML Version of Report
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HTML Version of Committee Minutes
Print Friendly Version of Committee Minutes
requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 38 page(s) - 90 K

| Sen. Cowdery's Page | Senate Transportation Committee Page |

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September 26, 2001

Honorable Ted Stevens
United States Senator for Alaska
522 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Stevens,

The Alaska State Senate Transportation Committee held a very productive hearing regarding airline safety on Monday September 24th. Alaskans testified from a standing room only crowd.

Representatives from all areas of the airline industry, ranging from top executives of major airline companies to a local airport skycap, testified before the Senate Transportation Committee. They shared ways to increase air safety, as well as concerns that some new policies established in the wake of the September 11th tragedy might be excessive.

Those testifying during the hearing identified problems and offered solutions. The major ideas offered were:

Slow de-pressurization of the airplane cabin that would subdue passengers.
Better surveillance equipment, and employee badges with photos for Airline/Airport personnel.
Airline / Airport personal need more pre-employment screening.
A laser flashlight on board that doesn't cause damage but can temporarily blind a person.
Increase cockpit security and more secure access from cabin.
Return of sky marshals and possible K9 attack dogs.
Pilots should be armed or those individuals with concealed-carry permits should be allowed to take their weapons on board of aircraft.
Responsibility for security should be transferred from the airlines to the federal government.
The Federal government should be training and staffing security points. Our national security should be a federal responsibility.
Carry on baggage is an abused privilege, which needs to be reconsidered.
Build a database of frequent travelers to help ease long lines at check in.
The Federal Government needs to provide more security at our national borders.
More visual armed police in airports, possibly with K-9 assistance.
Voice stress analysis machines during passenger check in.
Bio Medic Techniques for fingerprinting, and x-ray machines.
Transporting of prisoners - standardized rules needed.

An issue of substantial importance to Alaska, and a point that gathered much concern at the hearing is that of our general aviation. The aviation industry in Alaska is understandably unique. Alaska is not equipped with rail, and road systems to many communities. Our rural residents and communities are highly dependent on air transportation for their daily survival needs. Items such as medicine, emergency services, food, mail, public security are all delivered via air. The uniqueness of the Alaskan situation can not be lumped into the mass security measures. There are over 200 small rural airports in the state, most with little or no security capabilities, and most have no resources to provide airport security.

New policies created in the wake of the September 11 tragedy may have unintended consequences, such as a blanket Federal Aviation Administration rule excluding vehicles from a 300 foot buffer zone around airports that closed a nearby state highway in Wrangell. Regulations prohibiting mail or cargo on passenger planes temporarily grounded "combo" aircraft in Alaska that carry both cargo and passengers. Even though, this was a temporary situation, it is just one example of how "blanket" policy may not always work for Alaska's unique transportation situation.

The next few months and years are going to be a period of trial and error as we seek to improve security without unnecessarily sacrificing privacy or reasonable convenience. Although there may be some inconvenience, I believe the public understands and is more then willing to cooperate. We can maintain our freedom and increase security at the same time.

We have received a tremendous number of ideas and suggestions during this hearing and by email regarding airport and airline security. I am pleased at how willing the industry and the public are, to come together and address this issue. I hope that by coming together in an open dialogue, more ideas are generated, and the public can begin to have confidence reinstated for safe, secure and comfortable travel.

We are currently conducting a statewide poll of Alaskan citizens on this issue. The poll will be available for release soon, along with the full text of the hearing minutes.

I hope that this hearing may have added some sort of hope and insight as to the ideas of Alaskans. We will continue to brainstorm and offer suggestions and comments in the upcoming future. I appreciate and respect the difficult decisions that lay ahead of you.

Yours truly,

John J. Cowdery
Senator

| Sen. Cowdery's Page | Senate Transportation Committee Page |

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