Additional Components of Aviation Security Act Take Effect
Sky Harbor Purchases Fingerprinting System
Jan. 30, 2002
As part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 enacted by Congress and signed into legislation by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001, a new federal security surcharge will be implemented on February 1, 2002. The charge will be collected by the airlines and distributed to the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to assist with heightened security measures. The charge will be $2.50 per flight, up to $5 per one-way trip and $10 per round trip. None of this money will be directed to the City of Phoenix or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Additionally, new federal mandates call for all airport employees with access to secure areas to be fingerprinted and checked against a national crime database by December 6, 2002. More than 14,000 employees who work at Sky Harbor will have to undergo this new process to retain their clearance. In order to meet this deadline, the City of Phoenix Aviation Department has purchased livescan biometric technology equipment. The nearly $150,000 automated fingerprint system is connected to a national database that will allow a quick response regarding the employee's history.
Previously, the manual system took several weeks for a report and was difficult
for employers because new hires were unable to work during the processing
time. The new equipment has been installed and employees are now able to access
this technology. Sky Harbor expects to easily meet the federal deadline for
fingerprinting due to this new equipment.
Media Contact:
| Suzanne Luber |
602-273-3450 |
