TSA Wants Companies To Handle Checkpoints
It takes a lot of green to operate a
bureaucracy. Officials at Missoula International Airport (MSO) in
Montana may soon decide to hire a private company to oversee
security, as the federal government looks to save some cash.
The Missoulian newspaper reports the Transportation Security
Administration recently encouraged Montana airports to make the
switch, in order to save the government some money. TSA has
contracted with private security companies at other airports
nationwide for the same reason, though comparatively few airports
have opted to make the move... many of them citing an
"if-it's-not-broken-don't-fix-it" mindset.
The request comes as TSA prepares to contract out security
measures at seven commuter airports in Big Sky Country. Those
airports -- including Glasgow, Lewistown, Miles City, and
Sydney -- currently have little in the way of security
screening.
Missoula Airport director Cris Jensen says TSA wants to know if
other airports in Montana also want to adopt private screening
firms... so the agency can bid for one contract, with a lone
company handling the state's airport security needs. In theory,
that move would save TSA some money; the savings for MSO could be
as much as $90,000.
Jensen notes it costs that much now to post a security guard at
his airport's checkpoint's exit lane, 16 hours per day. If a
private company took over screening, that company would absorb that
cost.
"It certainly merits a conversation," he said, noting a decrease
in airports -- which are often, in turn, passed on to airlines --
could help attract greater commercial airline service.
"There's a lot of pressure on airports to do everything in their
power to get their rates and charges under control," Jensen
said.
Currently, MSO has about 40 TSA employees. They could opt to
join the new private company, Jensen said, or transfer to another
airport.
While the privatization of security operations holds definite
appeal for Missoula, Jensen notes the airport has little-to-no
influence on the government's eventual decision. Other state
facilities, such as Helena Regional Airport (HLN), remain
ambivalent on the issue.
"There are different circumstances at each airport," said HLN
director Ronald Mercer. "In Helena, either way is fine.
Technically, the same services are provided. We are not looking at
this right now."