"a system must be in place by Jan. 18" Invision will not build 2000 machines by then, nor do I believe ever.
Tuesday December 18 7:34 PM ET
Airlines Try to Delay Jan. Deadline
By JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The airline industry is trying to delay a January deadline for inspecting all checked bags for explosives.
Industry representatives have been asking members of Congress for a 30-day extension of the congressionally mandated deadline, enacted following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. They want the delay to be included in one of the spending bills Congress must pass before leaving town.
The House Transportation Committee's top Democrat criticized the airlines' efforts to extend the deadline.
``There is no justification for a delay in screening checked baggage,'' said Rep. James Oberstar (news - bio - voting record), D-Minn. ``It is appalling that, such a short time after the horrific events of Sept. 11, the airlines are up to their old tricks. They must not succeed.''
Daniel DuBray, a spokesman for Rep. Harold Rogers (news - bio - voting record), R-Ky., the chairman of the House Appropriations transportation subcommittee, said industry representatives have asked lawmakers for the delay.
But Michael Wascom, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, said he was unaware of any lobbying effort.
``Congress was very clear: Screen all bags within 60 days,'' said Wascom, whose trade group represents the major airlines. ``We intend to fulfill our commitments.''
Under the new aviation security law, a system must be in place by Jan. 18 to inspect all checked baggage for explosives. This can be done by explosive detection machines or other technology, hand searches of luggage, bomb-sniffing dogs or procedures to ensure that luggage is not loaded on a plane unless the passenger also boards.
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said last month that he didn't think the deadline could be met because there weren't enough machines, dogs or people to inspect all the luggage. He more recently said that the department would try to meet the deadline. |
