WASHINGTON Ñ Leading U.S. and Israeli aerospace companies have
fallen out over a strategy to battle suicide hijackers.
The dispute centers on measures to detect hijackers and their weaponry.
The disagreement has led to the suspension of an agreement between the U.S.
Boeing and Israel's El Al.
The two companies agreed to explore a joint venture to bolster security
at airports and airlines. But industry sources said Boeing felt El Al's
solutions to foil hijackings were draconian and could open the way for civil
rights suits.
The sources said El Al wanted to focus on the interrogation of suspected
hijackers to determine whether they fit a certain profile. In contrast,
Boeing wanted to concentrate on searching for weaponry among passengers and
cargo.
U.S. airliners and airports base their current security policy on random
searches of passengers as well as intensive screening of passengers who fit
a special profile. Security officers do not examine nationality, but rather
focus on passengers who pay in cash, buy one-way tickets or travel without
luggage.
The current system has been criticized in Congress as inflexible.
"Sometimes it seems that screeners are barred from selecting anyone who
actually looks like a possible terrorist," Rep. John Mica, chairman of the
House aviation subcommittee, told a hearing last month. "I am concerned that
political correctness may be stifling the development of a profiling system
that will enhance the safety and security of commercial aviation."
Earlier this month, Boeing announced a drive to sell jets to foreign
leaders and government staff. The company said that at least 100 planes used
by foreign leaders are more than 20 years old and ready for replacement.
Boeing is said to produce 80 percent of government aircraft.
