Task Force Recommends Biometrics For Access To Sensitive Airport Areas

Dec 11, 2002 12:00 PM, Jennifer Pero

           

Biometric authentication mechanisms should be used to identify employees who require access to airport functional areas, says a report from the Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security and Technology, San Jose, Calif. According to the task force, control of airport workforce, specifically in the Security Identification Display Area (SIDA), is weak due to inconsistent standards, uneven oversight, poor enforcement and multiple constituencies ranging from local to national authorities. The report — a product of a series of meetings involving a range of perspectives including government, customers, security and the airline industry — addressed several recommendations with the aim of securing federal funding.

To eliminate the opportunities for unauthorized individuals to compromise the integrity of the workforce through the use of false identification, unauthorized presence in authorized areas and “piggybacking,” the task force suggests airports should implement a more reliable authentication process. The report addresses the following technologies available to implement biometric activity:

n an identification card with biometric information that combines a password or PIN the cardholder knows and the individual’s unique characteristic, such as a fingerprint or iris scan; and n biometric scanning devices networked at access control points where biometric data is collected from an individual and compared with biometric data on the card.

The task force, convened by Congressman Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, consists of a range of high-tech, aviation and community leaders from Silicon Valley and around the nation. Its objective is to leverage Silicon Valley technical leadership to develop a national strategy to increase airport security and passenger enhancements through a pilot effort at the Mineta San Jose International Airport.

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