AVIATION BIOMETRIC BADGE/"SMART CARD" - IN PROTOTYPE PHASE:

In response to initiatives during 2003, the Department of Homeland Security contracted an international biometric consulting firm to conduct research regarding identification systems for transportation employee identification "smart" cards and passenger processing. The Department of Homeland Security will be working closely with the TSA to determine specific requirements and establishing the standards for these cards.

Currently, with the DHS and TSA is focusing on all modes of transportation and are completing the 3rd phase of 5 phases. This current phase, or "prototype" is geared at placing the technology out at geographically identified areas. Field demonstrations are being conducted at a limited number of sites to include airports and state organizations. This stage includes testing to differentiate the effectiveness of optical versus bar code identification. The 4th and 5th phases will be on a broader scale such as implementation, operations and maintenance of this technology.

The identification cards will be issued by the Port Authorities and will include personal information such as name, employee number, height, weight, date of birth, etc. The identification card would also include a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint or a picture of an individual's face or eye. The employees' data would be supplied by the employer, for example, airlines for their employees, vendors for their employees, and so forth. Or

The specific data to be provided for this card has not been determined at this time, a "joint determination" may be made by the DHS and TSA. There is no particular order by which the issuance of the identification cards may follow, however, it may begin with ground crew and baggage handlers. Next may be the vendors' employees, followed by airport/airline employees - to include flight crew and technicians. According to sources, the card has a target "roll-out" date of late 2004/early 2005.