The Secure Flight program
Passengers making airline reservations will be required to provide their birth date and sex in addition to names early this year on domestic flights as a part of aviation security enhancements recommended by the 9/11 Commission. Secure Flight, the new program, shifts responsibility for checking passenger names against “watch lists” to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Secure Flight attempts to strike a delicate balance between stopping the next terrorist attack in the U.S. and protecting the privacy of individuals against unreasonable background searches.
Requiring airlines to collect more personal information is expected to improve the quality of watch lists that contain names of possible terrorism and criminal suspects. It will also reduce misidentification of innocent travelers who are mistakenly placed on “no-fly” lists.
The Secure Flight program being rolled out this year will require extra screenings at the airport, including physical pat-downs and hand searches of their carry-on items. The airline industry supports the new procedures provided they streamline security and create fewer hassles for customers.
