[Travel-Link] TSA's Secure Flight Enters First Public Phase

[HAY Tim * SSD SPO]

Press release from the TSA today. 

 

TSA's Secure Flight Enters First Public Phase

 

Media Contact:
TSA Public Affairs
(571) 227-2829

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced
today that beginning May 15 the Secure Flight passenger vetting program
will begin asking passengers to enter their full name - as it appears on
the government issued identification they will be traveling with - when
making airline reservations.

This is the first publicly-noticeable step in implementing the
multi-phase Secure Flight program which shifts pre-departure watch list
matching responsibilities from individual aircraft operators to TSA. The
Secure Flight program satisfies a key recommendation of the 9/11
Commission, and congressional requirements from the Intelligence Reform
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and the 9/11 Commission Act signed
into law in 2007.

"By enhancing and streamlining the watch list matching process, the
Secure Flight program makes travel safer and easier for millions of
Americans," said TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. "During this
phase of the Secure Flight program, passengers are encouraged to book
their reservations using their name as it appears on the
government-issued ID they will use while traveling."

In the near future, small differences between the passenger's ID and the
passenger's reservation information, such as the use of a middle initial
instead of a full middle name or no middle name/initial at all, will not
be an issue for passengers. Over time, passengers should strive to
obtain consistency between the name on their government issued ID and
the travel information they use for booking flights. 

The second phase of Secure Flight begins August 15, 2009 when passengers
will be required to enter their date of birth and gender when booking
airline flights.

Once Secure Flight's advanced technology is fully implemented in early
2010, enhanced watch list matching will be done by the government.
Airlines will gather a passenger's full name, date of birth, and gender
when making an airline reservation to determine if the passenger is a
match to the No Fly or Selectee lists. By providing the additional data
elements of gender and date of birth, Secure Flight will more
effectively help prevent misidentification of passengers who have
similar names to individuals on the watch list and better identify
individuals that may pose a known or suspected threat to aviation.

TSA's goal is to vet 100 percent of passengers on all domestic
commercial flights by early 2010 and 100 percent of passengers on all
international commercial flights by the end of 2010.

 

Tim A. Hay, CPPB, CGTP, OPBC 
Lead State Procurement Analyst 
DAS State Procurement Office 
1225 Ferry St SE U140 
Salem, OR 97301-4285 

Ph.  503-378-4650 
Fax. 503-373-1626 
tim.hay at state.or.us 

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