The US Aviation Safety and Security Commission, which was set up to improve airline security procedures in the wake of the crash of TWA Flight 800, has extended the 60-day deadline for testing a full domestic bag-match programme.
US carriers have been able to convince the Clinton Administration that a positive bag-match procedure, to be conducted at one major hub airport and several smaller airports, might have disrupted the flow of traffic.
Instead, the experiment will start with data collection and computer modeling, followed by live trials at the airports. When the actual test will be conducted is not disclosed.
The concept of full bag-match for all airline flights is a key recommendation of the Gore Commission, embraced by US President Bill Clinton. US carriers are concerned, however, that the security procedure could cause enormous delays and cost the industry $2 billion annually.
Source: Flight International
