The National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the leading association for corporate and government travel managers and suppliers, lauds the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) progress towards a national Registered Traveler program, announced today through a press release issued by the agency. In the statement, the TSA affirmed the Registered Traveler program will be implemented in 10 to 20 airports beginning in the second half of 2006. TSA will launch the program in cooperation with the private sector. Each airport will be required to maintain interoperability between airports, install open platform technology, utilize a central information management system with safeguards to protect passenger privacy and offer benefits that are fused with enhanced security measures. According to the statement, the TSA expects a national Registered Traveler program will be operational next year. Bill Connors testifies before the

The Transportation Security Administration in partnership with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), today announced a Mobile Security Checkpoint (MSC) pilot program to screen MARC passengers and their bags for explosive material. The MSC program is designed to determine the operational feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of commercially available screening technology installed in a mobile container. The results from the pilot will be used to determine in which environments this containerized checkpoint is suitable. "TSA is committed to exploring innovative ways to enhance security in all modes of transportation," said TSA Federal Security Director David Beecroft. "We appreciate the strong partnership of MTA and the cooperation of MARC passengers as we strive to stay ahead of the curve in protecting our nation's rail systems."

The US Transportation Security Administration has warned aircraft owners and airport managers that Muslim extremists may be targeting private American jets and urged them to boost security. "On April 13, 2006, a message posted in Arabic on an Internet forum explained how to identify private American jets and urged Muslims to destroy all such aircraft," the TSA said in an advisory issued on Thursday. The TSA quoted the Arabic message as saying: "We call upon all Muslims to follow and identify private civilian American aircrafts in all airports of the world." "It is the duty of Muslims to destroy all types of private American aircraft that are of the types Gulfstream and Lear Jet and all small aircraft usually used by distinguished (people) and businessmen," it quoted the message as saying. It said the message explained how to identify private US jets and also provided the tail number of a private plane believed to be used by the CIA.

teams," Spero said. "The CBP dogs are great assets in our arsenal against drugs, smuggled illegal aliens, and all other illegal and prohibited items."