DATE: September 4, 2020
TO: All Personnel: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF
FROM: Robert A. Duffy, Federal Security Director: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
As I write this week’s update, it is hard to believe that it is now Labor Day weekend. I hope you were all able to find some time to enjoy this summer.
This summer, like most of 2020, has been very unusual for this normally very busy time of year. LGA just hit the 11,000 passenger mark for a single day yesterday, September 3, for the first time this summer. Last summer we had multiple days top 60,000 passengers and one day was over 61,000. As we head into the fall, there is no expectation of significant increases in passenger volume until at least Thanksgiving. HPN remains without any commercial flights until October. We learned that American will be leaving SWF again on October 7 and is expected to return in early November. West Jet has left LGA with a possible return to service in November. Southwest has reduced its flight schedule at ISP, but will still be the largest carrier at ISP.
At LGA, construction continues on Lanes 10-15 in Terminal B. We expect those lanes to be completed, tested and approved for service by the second week of October. Upon becoming operational, we are currently planning to begin several pilot programs for those new lanes. A remote resolution room will be installed between lane 16 and the LGP Airport Operations Center. This pilot will remove all x-ray operators from the lanes, and have them operate the x-rays from the remote location. We expect this will lead to greater effectiveness in the detection of prohibited items in carry-on bags. X-ray operators will not be distracted by passengers, other officers or by looking at the passenger queue to see how long the lines are.
The second pilot program will be the installation of Ultra Violet (UV) lights over the return belts in the Automated Screening Lanes (ASL). The purpose of this program is to test the ability of the UV lights to disinfect the passenger property bins immediately after use when they are on the return belt going back to the front of the ASL. UV light is known to be a natural disinfectant.
The third pilot program is for a touchless TDC process. The company that made our CAT units is working on a modification to the ID portal so that the ID card reader and passport reader will be turned 180 degrees to face the passenger and allow them to scan their ID or passport. The video screen will still face our officer so we can view the information, use the controls to check for the security features of an ID, etc. As you know, we have turned the ID portals to the side (90 degrees) for passengers to scan their ID, but a number of officers have expressed their discomfort with having a passenger stepping alongside the TDC podium and close to our officer’s working/personal space. There will be more information to follow as we get closer to the start-up of these initiatives.
Next week at LGA, Delta Airlines will be training 12 bus drivers to be certified to drive passenger buses on the AOA. Once the drivers are trained and badged for LGA, Delta will begin a new AOA shuttle bus service. This is due to the need to tear down the passenger foot bridge between Terminals C and D to make way for the new Terminal C construction. The shuttle buses will make three stops: Terminal C, Gate C44; Terminal D, Gate D6 and Terminal D, Concourse G, Gate 97. TSA personnel may use the buses when there is a need to travel between Terminals C and D. Regulatory Inspector, ATLAS team officers and officers who are needed to assist the adjacent terminal are examples. This is one more step closer to the completion of the new Terminal C which is currently planned to open some time in the first quarter of 2022 or about 18 months from now.
Soon, you will see information coming out from John Kolk concerning the CBA ratification process. You will recall that the voting began earlier this year and then had to be stopped due to the pandemic. TSA and AFGE are in agreement that it is time to complete that vote this fall. Voting will start on September 21 and finish on October 26. This vote is for Bargaining Unit Employees only. Management must remain neutral on the ratification and can’t express any opinion on any provision of the proposed CBA. The current CBA will remain in effect until a successor CBA is ratified by the bargaining unit members.
I have seen an improvement in our FET testing results. The detection of prohibited items at the passenger and checked baggage screening checkpoints is at the heart of why the TSA was created. If we fail in our detection responsibilities, then we will fail in our mission. We are using a three pronged approach to drive improvement in detection:
1. Thorough knowledge of screening SOPs
2. Resolving all alarms as a team (2 or more people involved)
3. Counteracting complacency
As we have discussed many times in the past, we can show through our covert testing that when our officers understand and follow the SOPs, they pass the tests. When we have two or more officers working together as a team, we effectively resolve the alarms. Whenever we act alone to resolve alarms, it usually leads to failure. Not knowing, understanding or following the SOPs leads to failure. The failure to follow an SOP or ask for help to resolve an alarm are examples of complacency. Complacency is the biggest challenge to overcome. We are working on that at this time. I am interested in hearing ideas from you about how we can address the complacency problem. Please e-mail any ideas you have.
Later this month, the annual Federal Employees Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) will go out to all TSA employees. I highly encourage all of you to take the time to complete the survey. You can do it while at work, and the results are used to drive improvements. The best ideas on how we can improve come from you in Screening, Regulatory and Mission Support who carry out the TSA mission every day. Also, let us know what we are doing well so we can continue to excel in those areas. Consider how can I and the leadership team best serve all of you.
Lastly, I want to notify all of you that Deputy FSD Matt McKeon was asked to serve as the Acting FSD for the State of Wyoming for 90 days, and Matt has accepted the offer to serve in that assignment. Matt will be leaving LGA the week of September 21 and will be in Wyoming through the end of 2020. The need for this assignment came as a result of the FSD in Wyoming taking the FSD position in St. Louis. Matt will be the Acting FSD while the selection process for a new FSD is taking place. I know you all join me in wishing Matt well in this new assignment and are confident that he will be successful.
Thank you all for your continued outstanding effort to safeguard the traveling public every day. Your continued dedication, perseverance and fortitude are always inspiring. Please take some time to enjoy this holiday weekend. The weather is predicted to be outstanding for the entire weekend, so get outside and spend time with your family and friends, but please use good judgement and stay safe.
It is my privilege to serve you.
Thank you,
Bob
Robert A. Duffy
Federal Security Director
