Private Security Screeners Could Replace TSA Employees (TYC, OSIS, LLL)

The battle for proper airport security is beginning to heat up again now that airports are strongly considering the potential for private security. Currently, there are 17 airports in the United States – including Kansas City International Airport – that have replaced the traditional TSA screeners with individuals from private security firms. House Transportation Committee has been urging other airports to do the same. But

reports that it is not clear if travelers would even notice a difference. Still, Mark VanLoh, director of the Kansas City International Airport, seems to be very satisfied with the results. "In my opinion, these contract employees – they're not federal employees; they're not guaranteed a job for life," he said. "If they don't meet the performance goals or maybe they're consistently rude, or maybe they miss objects that go through the machine, they are terminated. I can't remember how easy that would be to do with a federal employee. I don't think it is." This could bode well for companies like ADT Security Services (a subsidiary of Tyco International, Ltd.

), which has offered its services to airports, among other industries. When the TSA was created (via the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001), airports were given the option to use private security screeners. NPR reports that Kansas City was one of the first airports to hire private screeners after the attacks on 9/11. But don't misunderstand: going private doesn't mean the TSA isn't involved. While its employees may not be the ones who personally screen individuals, the organization is still in charge of hiring the private security team. Furthermore, private screeners must work under TSA supervision and guidance. Regardless, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, John Mica (R-Florida), insists that private contractors offer an advantage. "The private screening under federal supervision works and performs statistically significantly better, so our main purpose here is in getting better screening and better performance, not to mention that we can get better cost for the taxpayers," he said. If, however, your biggest concern has more to do with what the screener sees than who pays his bills, take note:

reports that airports may soon test body scanners that are equipped with new privacy upgrades. The upgrades come courtesy of OSI Systems, Inc.

and L-3 Communications Holdings

.