By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HEBRON - Federal security officials did not meet the Dec. 31 deadline for electronically scanning all checked luggage for bombs at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. About 400 airports made the deadline; the local airport is one of 29 that didn't.

The Transportation Security Administration says that while some bags are being checked by machines, the agency in charge of aviation security in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks confirms that the local airport is still relying on other methods to deter anyone from trying to sneak a bomb aboard a commercial airliner.

Critics have said some of these methods can either bog down an already fragile system, creating a "hassle factor" that has left the airline industry reeling financially, or create a major security loophole.

SCREENING LUGGAGE

Methods being used to deter anyone from packing explosives in checked luggage at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport: Explosive Detection Systems: These are the large machines that use CAT scan technology to seek out certain molecular structures. Electronic Trace Detection (ETD): These are smaller, almost suitcase-size machines that use spectrum analysis to see if there is any trace of explosives in or on the bag. Hand searches: Airports that did not meet the deadline for scanning 100 percent of all bags electronically were allowed to keep methods already approved by Congress. One of those is hand searches, which can be very slow and manpower intensive. Bag matching: Bag matching is when a bag will not be flown on a plane if its owner also is not on the plane. This would not prevent a suicide bomber, however.

"We have believed all along that alternative means can be used if electronic screening was not possible. And in this case, it was not," said TSA spokeswoman Heather Rosenker. "We are still working as hard as we can to get 100 percent of the bags scanned as quickly as possible, and the current goal is to have it in place by the end of February - or the end of the quarter at the latest."

The agency had said in mid-December that the local airport would make the deadline, imposed by Congress soon after the terror attacks.

Late last year, Congress softened its stance somewhat, giving the TSA and individual airports some breathing room if it appeared the deadline would not be met. Congress also has not specified any penalties for missing the deadline.

And it appears Cincinnati has fallen into that category. TSA officials originally said that there would be enough machines in place to handle bags checked locally - Delta Air Lines' Terminal 3 can see as many as 1,500 an hour - but other issues sprang up.

This means the TSA continues to rely on previously approved methods such as hand searches and bag matching, or when a piece of luggage is not allowed on a flight if its owner does not board the plane.

And even Ms. Rosenker acknowledged that bag matching would not stop a potential suicide bomber, one willing to board a plane with explosives in checked luggage.

"But we've come a long way from where we were before September 11 opened all our eyes," Ms. Rosenker said. "There are no absolutes, but we are not backing down from our commitment and our effort to make this happen as soon as possible."

Construction delays?

Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, said in a statement that the TSA told his office that 100 percent of bags would be scanned locally by Feb. 15.

He also said the TSA said the deadline was missed due to delays in conveyor work to support an automated bag screening system, and issues of structural support that are still being addressed by the construction contractor.

"Until this work is completed, the airport will screen bags using alternate means that were authorized by Congress in last year's Transportation Security Act," Mr. Rogers said. "While these screening methods are not ideal, they are authorized as a short-term solution."

TSA officials would not confirm the Feb. 15 date, nor would they discuss the reasons for the delay in implementing electronic bag screening.

Non-electronic methods

Late last month, TSA officials said that about 90 percent of the roughly 2 million bags checked daily were being screened electronically.

Ms. Rosenker would not say how many bags locally were being screened by either Explosive Detection Systems or Electronic Trace Detection machines, the two methods approved by Congress. Nor would she say how many bags were still being checked using bag matching or hand searches, only that the TSA "is using the full complement of methods put at our disposal by Congress. I can't discuss it further due to security concerns."

Ms. Rosenker confirmed that the TSA has not yet asked to use the airport's bomb dog squad as a backup measure - other airports have been using dogs as an alternate to the machines.

Only two companies have been authorized to make the larger EDS machines, creating a shortage. An official with one of those companies previously told the Enquirer that only half the required machines had been made so far.

The non-electronic methods were put in place for all bags a year ago this month as a stopgap until all bags are searched electronically.

"We knew all along that (the TSA) wouldn't make this deadline, that it was completely unrealistic," said Gary Burns, spokesman for Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., and chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee. "But the TSA and the airports are not being given a free pass on this. If they don't meet the requirements as soon as they can, we will intervene somehow, even though we don't want to be coming down hard with a hammer given how far they've come already."

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com