March 17, 2006 10:41:01 (ET)
NEW YORK, Mar 17, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Coalition for Luggage Security today questioned the progress made in securing our airports, airlines and passengers. This comes after an article on MSNBC.com entitled "Airline screeners fail government bomb tests" indicated that 21 airports failed a federal investigative test conducted by the General Accounting Office between October and January to ensure bomb parts would not go through security. 21 out of 21 airports failed to find the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) parts sent through security by investigators.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11863165/from/RS.5/
As quoted in the MSNBC.com article, former New Jersey Governor, Tom Kean, chairman of the 9/11 commission said, "I'm appalled. I'm dismayed and, yes, to a degree, it does surprise me. Because I thought the Department of Homeland Security was making some progress on this, and evidently they're not."
"The TSA says detecting explosive materials and IED's at checkpoints is their main priority. I would assume that would mean they are interested in keeping passengers and airports safe. If that were the case, then why does the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security continuously add complicated situations to a problem that has grown out of control, and has cost taxpayers and airlines billions?" said Richard A. Altomare, Founder and President of the Coalition for Luggage Security and CEO of Universal Express, Inc. (USXP, Trade)
"They are basing security in the air and on the ground by increasing the size of the monster and continuously doing the same things over and over again. Just making them bigger, more costly and quite frankly, blindly," said Harvey Abelson, Coalition Director.
"The Coalition for Luggage Security thinks it's time to act responsibly and give new ideas a chance. We see everyday how the old ideas, just made bigger, do not work. The Coalition white paper (
http://www.usxp.com/securitywp.pdf) shows how the skies can be safer, how travelers can be expeditiously sent to their destinations, how airlines can begin to increase their profits and how we can combat and defeat the potential of literally hundreds if not thousands of people from being killed," continued Mr. Altomare.
"We want to know, and I would think the American people want to know now, why is it that we are spending taxpayer dollars on something that just does not work, and why is it that they do not take steps to try something new. The Coalition is ready and willing to help. The TSA and the Department of Homeland Security should begin the process of testing a new way of doing things; or Airlines and Airports should take matter into their own hands and offer passengers 'no luggage' flights. We're doing our part. I think the time is overdue for all of these empowered entities and officials to begin thinking about a more practical and obvious choice. Separate luggage from passenger planes, and everyone reaps the rewards," concluded Mr. Altomare.
About The Coalition for Luggage Security
The Coalition for Luggage Security was established to ensure the safety of travelers through alternate means of luggage transportation. The Coalition consists of prominent businesspersons and companies that educate the public, Congress and the Administration on the importance of solving the luggage and cargo safety issues that exist in airlines and airports.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained herein, which are not historical, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, certain delays beyond the Company's control with respect to market acceptance of new technologies, products and services, delays in testing and evaluation of products and services, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: Coalition for Luggage Security
Coalition for Luggage Security
Harvey Abelson, 212-239-2575
