TSA’s new remote screening pilot already needs a rework

The Massachusetts Port Authority is participating in a new pilot program, in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration, in an effort to improve efficiency in airport screening procedures. 

Starting June 1, people flying out of Boston Logan on either Delta or JetBlue (their two largest carriers) can be screened in Framingham, hop on a bus, and get dropped off on the sterile side of the airport without passing through additional screening — all for the price of $9, not including the $7 per day parking.  

For those living in the western suburbs of Boston who do not want to make the 25-mile trip to Logan on their own and deal with on-site airport parking, or traverse the route via public transportation, this looks like a winning option. It may also provide an airport security screening model for other large airports in congested urban areas, such as New York-LaGuardia, Atlanta Hartsfield or Los Angeles International.

So what can go wrong? Plenty. 

Creating a remote airport security screening facility is no different from setting up an airport security screening terminal, except that the departing transportation is by bus rather than by plane. This makes the Framingham terminal much like a regional airport, with screening checkpoints subject to the same TSA-mandated technologies, procedures and requirements.

Yet with a much smaller operation, any equipment breakdowns or TSA officer no-shows could shut the remote terminal down temporarily, forcing the passengers to ride the bus to Logan but pass through screening there.

Once people are screened at the remote terminal, they are part of the sterile side of the air system, even if they are not physically at........

© The Hill