Local News

SWA, TSA Unveil New Technology For Safer Flights

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― New technology to make flights safer has just been unveiled. It's all part of a new pilot program involving Southwest Airlines and the TSA.

The idea behind the program is to make sure the wrong person doesn't gain access to the cockpit. For the first time, pilots will use biometrics to gain access into the planes they fly.

The program is called Secure-Screen, and it has just started in Baltimore.

"Our union made it a top legislative priority about 18 months ago to pursue this because we felt it did raise the bar of security and there were holes in the security system," said Captain Carl Kuwitzky, President of the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association.

The new program is the result of the 9-11 Commission, which recommended the technology.

Pilots will still have to show their identification to a TSA officer, but they can get screened away from the security checkpoint, saving pilots time.

"Secure Screen takes the volume of pilots who need to get through security very quickly away from the main security checkpoint and brings them to this location, which they can get through very quickly. It gives them the opportunity to get to the planes quickly where they can do necessary checks before they can depart," said Lauren Gaches, Transportation Security Administration.

It will also save passengers going through the checkpoints time, because officers won't have to screen pilots. The biometrics program will include flight attendants later.

"It allows TSA resources to focus on the real threat, and that is below the airport terminal and the airport perimeter and customers being screened," said Captian Kuwitzky.

After 60 days, the program could come to Dallas Love Field and Chicago Midway. It will then go nationwide in the next year and a half.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---