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US seeks international solution to airline security
Washington, Aug 28: In an effort to beef up aviation security, US is seeking international support to prevent terrorists from acquiring portable missiles which could be used to target aircraft, a senior official has said.
Washington, Aug 28: In an effort to beef up aviation security, US is seeking international support to prevent terrorists from acquiring portable missiles which could be used to target aircraft, a senior official has said.
"Bush administration is working with other countries to prevent terrorists from acquiring and using the missiles known as Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS)," James Loy, Chief of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the Department of Homeland Security told reporters.
As MANPADS could pose danger to civil aviation in the United States and other countries, he said, the US has been pursuing a three-pronged approach, which includes "classic" non-proliferation efforts, assessment of the potential threat at international airports and actual counter-measures. US was trying through bilateral and multilateral efforts to reduce the number of the missiles not controlled by legitimate governments. It was also challenging countries to control the manufacturing and export such weapons, Loy said.
He said the US administration has been also reviewing different technologies that could be used against MANPADS.
Loy said his agency has been working bilaterally with other countries on issues related to the expansion of the air marshals programme, which has put thousands of armed security agents on board of commercial planes on both domestic and international routes. US will engage in bilateral discussion with countries that express interest in having armed pilots operating planes out of those countries' airports, he added.
Bureau Report
As MANPADS could pose danger to civil aviation in the United States and other countries, he said, the US has been pursuing a three-pronged approach, which includes "classic" non-proliferation efforts, assessment of the potential threat at international airports and actual counter-measures. US was trying through bilateral and multilateral efforts to reduce the number of the missiles not controlled by legitimate governments. It was also challenging countries to control the manufacturing and export such weapons, Loy said.
He said the US administration has been also reviewing different technologies that could be used against MANPADS.
Loy said his agency has been working bilaterally with other countries on issues related to the expansion of the air marshals programme, which has put thousands of armed security agents on board of commercial planes on both domestic and international routes. US will engage in bilateral discussion with countries that express interest in having armed pilots operating planes out of those countries' airports, he added.
Bureau Report