ACI-NA Public Safety & Security Fall Conference Brings Airport, Government Leaders to Chicago

On August 6-9, more than 150 airport safety and security officials, representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and suppliers of good and services to the industry came together in Chicago for the 2006 ACI-NA Public Safety and Security Fall Conference. The Conference provided attendees with a productive forum to discuss aviation security and operations/safety regulations and policies.

Charlotte Peed, TSA Stakeholder Manager for Airports, opened the two-day program with an update on TSA's risk-based decision making approach, its layered process to airport security, and the agency's strategic communications and tactical response to security threats. Regarding Registered Traveler (RT), Peed said that she expects a number of airports to have operable RT systems in place by the end of 2006. Peed acknowledged the strong partnership TSA has developed with airports through ACI-NA and commended airports for their ongoing participation in reporting suspicious incidents to the Transportation Security Operations Center.

Also highlighting the agenda were FAA's Ben Castellano, Manager, Airport Safety and Operations, who provided an update on safety issues and policy from FAA's perspective; a discussion of employee and baggage screening issues, new security technologies, and air cargo security; an FBI security briefing; a presentation on Congressional consideration of airport security; and a discussion of pandemic planning at airports with representatives from Los Angeles World Airports, US Airways and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Representatives from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Air Transport Association (ATA) also participated.

Presentations from the Conference are available for download from the ACI-NA Web site e-Library.

ACI-NA thanks the City of Chicago and the Chicago Airport System for their hospitality and strong support of this event. For more information on ACI-NA Public Safety and Security programs, contact Elle Han.