<B> WashingtonWire</B>
<B>ATA: Record Delays</B>
The Air Transport Association warned that the airline industry expects consumer complaints to the U.S. Department of Transportation to skyrocket this fall due to a summer of record air traffic control delays. The ATA said the Federal Aviation Administration reported that summer air delays rose 51 percent in May, 12 percent in June, 76 percent in July, 22 percent in August and nearly 63 percent in September. The comments came as DOT prepared to release its September Air Travel Consumer Report, which ATA said is likely to show a sharp increase in consumer complaints due to delays.
<A NAME="2"><B>Customs Changes Focus On Passenger Rights</B>
The Customs Service has announced changes in its airline passenger processing methods in international airports, aimed largely at increasing passenger rights and assistance. According to the announcement, the major improvement is a requirement, effective immediately, for Customs managers to seek review by a U.S. attorney in cases where passengers are detained for searches up to eight hours or more. Other changes included: increased supervisory oversight, mandating that Customs inspectors gain approval from a supervisor before conducting a "pat down" search; and use of new equipment to offer passengers an alternative to a physical pat-down search. Officials noted that body scan machines already have been installed in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami and New York JFK, and soon will be installed in Chicago and Houston. Also, full-time passenger service reps now are assigned to assist travelers in the Federal Inspection Areas at all major gateway airports. Additional changes are expected in the near future.
<A NAME="3"><B>FAA Misses Deadline For TIP</B>
In a followup audit of FAA's deployment of explosives detection equipment at airports, the General Accounting Office stated that the agency has not met its own deadlines for issuing procedures and guidance for implementing Threat Image Projection, a computer software program used to test screener performance. GAO requested that FAA by Nov. 30 provide a new target date for implementing TIP, and noted that it will continue to monitor FAA's performance and issue another report in December. Meanwhile, GAO said that airlines and their screening companies have been managing the TIP program locally or simply ignoring it altogether while waiting for further guidance. FAA currently is field testing and evaluating TIP to obtain uniform data regarding screener performance, and plans to require performance standards as an integral part of a proposed rule on certification of screening companies.
<A NAME="4"><B>DOT Expects High Conference Turnout</B>
DOT's planned Dec. 5-7 Chicago conference, Aviation In The 21st Century: Beyond Open Skies, is expected to draw more than 500 delegates, including transport ministers and the directors general of more than 70 countries with which the United States has a bilateral agreement, according to a department spokesperson. Representatives of the major U.S. and foreign airlines and airports, international organizations, trade associations, manufacturers, other representatives from the private sector and the aviation press corps also will participate. The conference, to be chaired by DOT secretary Rodney Slater, will focus on strategic airline alliances, airways and airport infrastructure issues, aviation safety and security issues, airline competition and service, and the impact of technology on air service quality and competition.