The Transportation Security Administration plans to screen all high-risk air cargo and begin installing new passenger and baggage scanning technology at airports in fiscal 2005, the agency’s acting director, retired Navy Adm. David Stone, told Congress last week. Stone fielded pointed questions from members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security about what TSA is doing to improve airline passenger and cargo screening. “The intent is for us to use our intelligence to be able to target shipments,” Stone said. “Our intent is to do as much of that and achieve 100 percent [screening of] high-threat designated cargo in 2005, so that’s our goal.” Recent breaches have highlighted gaps in cargo screening. For example, three men from the Dominican Republic were caught at Miami International Airport on Jan. 31 after hiding in a shrink-wrapped pallet on a cargo plane from Santo Domingo. The aviation industry has resisted mandates that would require screening of all cargo carried aboard passenger aircraft. Full Story
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