NCJ Number
106141
Date Published
1986
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings and recommendations from a task force study of the implementation of the Foreign Airport Security Act and relevant security issues at the international airports in Frankfurt, Rome, London, and Athens.
Abstract
The study was conducted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee Staff Task Force on International Terrorism and Diplomatic Security from May 25 through June 4, 1986, and July 7-13, 1986. Security requirements issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following the enactment of the Foreign Airport Security Act have made U.S. carriers to the airports studied more secure than the other foreign carriers, with the possible exception of El Al. If foreign carriers do not implement equivalent security measures, they should be prohibited from flying directly to or from the United States. The surveyed airports comply with the minimum safety and security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. They have cooperated in varying degrees with the U.S. Government and U.S. air carriers in implementing the Foreign Airport Security Act. Of the four airports, London/Heathrow has the highest overall security level. The FAA has not adequately shifted its focus on domestic airline safety to a broader international airline security program. This could be facilitated by reorganizing the FAA's Washington headquarters and overseas offices. Consideration should be given to using air marshals as onsite security coordinators. Other recommendations pertain to U.S. Government responsibility and coordination for airport security, airlines vulnerability to state-sponsored terrorism, and host government/airport authority responsibility for security.