Boeing submits plan for U.S. airline security
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, December 10, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ The U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has submitted a plan to
bolster airline security in the wake of the September Islamic suicide
hijackings that led to the destruction of the World Trade Center and a wing
of the Pentagon.
The Seattle-based company said the proposal included products
recommended by the U.S. Transportation Department's team on aircraft
security. U.S. airlines have already implemented the department's short-term
security recommendations.
Executives said the Boeing proposal includes price and availability of
engineering design and kit parts for the enhancements. They said the
proposal seeks to strengthen the doors of the flight deck, increase
awareness of cabin and flight crew, provide video surveillance of the flight
deck entrance and ensure that position-tracking transponders that cannot be
switched off in an emergency.
"Our customers helped us determine what these necessary security
enhancements would require, and we committed to them that we would give them
a solid proposal as soon as possible," Mike Bair, Boeing executive vice
president of Commercial Aviation Services, said. "Much work remains to be
done."
Boeing has teamed with C&D Aerospace to produce the actual designs and
kits. The goal is to produce and install the equipment in all 5,500 Boeing
aircraft flying in the United States by April 2003.
Executives said Boeing has signed a separate agreement with Israel
Aircraft Industry to examine a joint venture for airline security.
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