TSA Deploys Federal Screeners to an Additional 36 Airports; Now in 269
Federal Passenger Screeners Deployed to Ketchikan Airport Today

 

October 29, 2002
Tuesday - 12:30 pm


In a news release today, Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Security Adm. James M. Loy announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will deploy federal screeners today to 36 airports; bringing the total number of airports with federal screeners to 269.

"In January, TSA had 13 permanent employees. Today, TSA has more than 44,000 employees and has deployed federal screeners to 269 airports," Adm. Loy said. "The story

"In January, TSA had 13 permanent employees. Today, TSA has more than 44,000 employees and has deployed federal screeners to 269 airports." ....
Adm. Loy
of TSA, an agency born of the ashes of Ground Zero, the Pentagon and in the fields of Pennsylvania, is remarkable. We continue to exceed expectations as we enhance security in airport after airport, leading to success story after success story."

With less than 10 months to recruit an entirely new type of federal airport security workforce, it is rewarding to report that as of Oct. 23, some 22 percent of TSA's screeners are African-American, a number twice that of the current civilian work force population. While 8 percent of the American work force is Hispanic, TSA's work force is already 11 percent Hispanic. Our numbers for hiring Native Americans reflect the labor force. Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders account for 4 percent of our screeners, compared with 2.8 percent of the civilian workforce. Although whites make up 77.9 percent of the workforce nationally, only 57 percent of TSA's work force is white.

Federal screeners receive 44 hours of classroom training and 60 hours of on-the-job training. In addition, federal screeners must meet minimum qualifications including: U.S. citizenship; high school degree, a GED or equivalent, or one year of security or aviation screening experience; English proficiency; and passing a background check. The salary of a transportation security screener ranges from $23,600 to $35,400 depending upon experience, plus locality pay. In addition, security screeners receive federal benefits including health insurance, life insurance, retirement, paid vacation and sick leave.

The Aviation and Transportation Security Act mandates that TSA deploy federal passenger screeners to all commercial airports by Nov. 19, and that TSA screen all checked luggage for explosives by Dec. 31, 2002.

Federal passenger screeners are deploying to the following airports today:

  • Ketchikan International Airport (KTN), Ketchikan, AK
  • Montgomery Regional Airport (Dannelly Field) (MGM), Montgomery, AL
  • Prescott Municipal Airport (PRC), Prescott, AZ
  • Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Flagstaff, AZ
  • Long Beach Daugherty Field Airport (LGB), Long Beach, CA
  • Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), Gainesville, FL
  • University Of Illinois-Willard Airport (CMI), Savoy, IL
  • Garden City Municipal Airport (GCK), Garden City, KS
  • Liberal Municipal Airport (LBL), Liberal, KS
  • Dodge City Regional Airport (DDC), Dodge City, KS
  • Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), Monroe, LA
  • Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH), Lake Charles, LA
  • Alexandria International Airport (AEX), Alexandria, LA
  • Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), Lafayette, LA
  • Saipan International Airport (GSN), Saipan Island, MP
  • Meridian Regional Airport - Key Field (MEI), Meridian, MS
  • Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR), Columbus, MS
  • Mid Delta Regional Airport (GLH), Greenville, MS
  • Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport (PIB), Moselle, MS
  • Gallatin Field Airport (BZN), Belgrade, MT
  • Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS), Bismarck, ND
  • Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK), Lincoln, NE
  • Elko Regional Airport (EKO), Elko, NV
  • Elmira-Corning Regional Airport (ELM), Horseheads, NY
  • Eugene Airport/Mahlon Sweet Field (EUG), Eugene, OR
  • Ellington Field (EFD), Houston, TX
  • Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), Abilene, TX
  • San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT), San Angelo, TX
  • Cedar City Municipal (CDC), Cedar City, UT
  • Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), Moab, UT
  • St. George Municipal Airport (SGU), St. George, UT
  • Vernal/Uintah County Airport (VEL), Vernal, UT
  • Grant County Airport (MWH), Moses Lake, WA
  • Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB), Lewisburg, WV
  • Mercer County Airport (BLF), Bluefield, WV
  • Laramie Regional Airport (LAR), Laramie, WY

TSA also deployed federal baggage screeners to the following airports today:

  • Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW), Detroit, MI
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, NY
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, CA
  • Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, NJ
  • Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Swanton, OH

 

 

Source of News Release:

Transportation Security Administration
Web Site

 

 

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