[IP] (BN) U.S. Borrows Ski-Slope Techniques to Speed Up Airport Secur

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

U.S. Borrows Ski-Slope Techniques to Speed Up Airport Security
2008-02-15 10:45 (New York)


By John Hughes
     Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. airline passengers may get a
speedier trip through security checkpoints under a pilot program
that borrows from the practices used by ski-slope operators.
     At the Denver and Salt Lake City airports, the government
is creating a beginner line for fliers who may need help with
screening, another for people with some travel experience and a
fast lane for those familiar with safety rules.
     ``The response has been really positive,'' said Earl
Morris, the federal security director at the Salt Lake City
airport, where the lanes were used for their first full day
yesterday. ``Most people are pretty considerate. They go to the
lane that is most appropriate to them.''
     The test program, called ``Black Diamond'' for the symbols
that mark the toughest runs at ski resorts, is intended to cut
waiting times at checkpoints. The lines will be unveiled at a
Denver checkpoint next week, said Ellen Howe, spokeswoman for
the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

--Editor: Ed Dufner, John Lear

To contact the reporter on this story:
John Hughes in Washington at +1-202-624-1819 or
jhughes5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Dave Versical at +1-248-827-2944 or dversical@bloomberg.net.

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