FAA Regulations Were Followed on Sept. 11

Re “Some Things Just Can’t Be Handed Off,” Commentary, Oct. 25:

Argenbright did not provide the security for the two flights that left Logan Airport in Boston on Sept. 11. Furthermore, regarding the two flights for which Argenbright personnel did provide screening, there is no evidence to date that these employees did a single thing incorrectly. In fact, they were following Federal Aviation Administration regulations that, at the time, allowed knives of up to four inches, box cutters, corkscrews and other items to be carried onto an airplane. Moreover, there are now suggestions that the items were pre-placed onto the aircraft and did not even pass through a screening checkpoint.

Since Sept. 11 we have been working with the FAA to enforce tighter regulations. For P.W. Singer to say that Argenbright “failed to stop” the terrorists is an insult to the thousands of hard-working employees at LAX and other airports who have and will continue to comply with federal guidelines on aviation security.

Working together to find real solutions and improve our security in this new terrorist-threat environment is the goal of our company and others in the aviation security industry.

William T. Barbour

President, Argenbright Security

Atlanta