Access Control
& Security Systems

The Aviation Security Association, comprised of the world's leading security companies, urged Congress and the Bush Administration last week to adopt the Israeli and European aviation security models. The association believes the models will give the American flying public increased confidence in the aviation system after the tragedies of Sept. 11.

"The Israeli system of aviation security is based on federal oversight using private-sector employees," said Lior Zouker, CEO of ICTS, an aviation security firm based in Amsterdam. "The Israeli system is viewed rightly as one of the best in the world. We believe that the American public should benefit from their expertise and that the administration should stand by the public-private aviation security partnership endorsed by President Bush."

Zouker, a former sky marshal for Israel's El Al Airlines, added that complete federalization of airport security has failed in the past.

"The complete nationalization of airport security failed in Europe," he said. "After a spate of hijackings and bombings, Europe realized a public-private partnership was required to get the job done."

Zouker then called for major global airport/airline security firms to take the lead in the fight to secure American airports.

"The U.S. airlines operate in a highly cost-sensitive environment. Removing them from the security equation and allowing major global security providers to contract directly with the federal government will raise standards, raise worker pay rates and increase retention rates," he continued. "The American aviation system can be brought up to Israeli and European standards by companies working together with strong federal oversight and standards."

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• More from September's issue