WashingtonWire - 2002-06-03

TSA Lifts Ban On Personal Items

The Transportation Security Administration issued a revised list of both permitted and banned items for travelers to carry onboard an aircraft, as well as travel tips to help airline passengers minimize anticipated wait times at airports during the peak travel season. The tips can be found at www.tsa.dot.gov. Items previously prohibited but now permitted in aircraft cabins include: walking canes and umbrellas, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed; nail clippers with nail files attached; nail files; tweezers; safety razors, including disposable razors; eyelash curlers; diabetes-related supplies/equipment, including syringes, insulin, insulin-pump, blood glucose meter, etc. However, all medication must have professionally printed labels identifying it or the manufacturer's name. Meanwhile, a number of sports-related items—including golf clubs, baseball and cricket bats and ski poles—remain on the banned list. Other items still banned include corkscrews and metal scissors with pointed tips and any disabling chemical or spray, such as mace. A civil penalty of up to $1,100 per violation still remains in effect. TSA spokesperson Paul Turk said: "This list is dynamic, and we're constantly assessing it." Any changes will be posted on the agency's Web site.



Senate Prioritizes Appropriations Bill

The Senate on June 3 returns from its Memorial Day recess and has scheduled as the first order of business the consideration of the fiscal-year 2002 supplemental appropriations bill. The House on May 24 passed its version of the bill by a vote of 280-138. Key provisions in the measure would provide $4 billion in extra funding for the Transportation Security Administration; $850 million for construction and installation of Explosives Detection System and Explosives Trace Detection machines at airports—$343.1 million more than requested; $200 million to reimburse airports for mandated security upgrades; $75 million to pay for state and local law enforcement presence at airports; a restriction on the TSA workforce of 45,000 employees, rather than the 68,000 TSA requested; and $49 million for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to compensate for the shortfall in air and seaport immigration inspection fees.



DOT Forms Commission To Study Travel Agent Industry

U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Norman Mineta announced the formation of a commission mandated by Congress that will study the condition of the travel agent industry and the quality of information available to consumers on airline services. The National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry was provided for by AIR-21, which cleared Congress in April 2000. The Commission is directed to examine whether the financial condition of travel agents is declining and, if so, the effect of such a decline on consumers. It also will explore whether or not there are impediments to information regarding the services and products offered by the airline industry, and, if so, the effects of those impediments on travel agents, Internet-based distributors and consumers. The Commission will make recommendations on how to improve the condition of travel agents and enhance consumer access to travel information. The nine-member panel will issue its recommendations by Nov. 16.



FAA: New Rule Will Increase Capacity In The Skies

A proposed Federal Aviation Administration rule would add capacity to the nation's skies by reducing the minimum vertical separation between aircraft from the current 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet for all aircraft flying between 29,000 and 41,000 feet. Currently, aircraft at those altitudes must be separated by 2,000 feet vertically. As high-altitude air traffic continues to increase, FAA said, capacity will become more constrained unless separation limits are reduced. "Implementing Reduced Vertical Separation Minima is a major effort in our overall plan to increase capacity by 30 percent over the next decade," FAA administrator Jane Garvey said. RVSM already is in place over Atlantic and Pacific airspace and in the domestic airspace of several other countries. Among the advantages of RVSM will be greater availability of time/fuel-efficient routes, reduction in air traffic controller workload and enhanced safety. FAA plans to implement RVSM in December 2004. Comments on the proposed change are due Aug. 8.