Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990                   TAG: 9005170052
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

NEW TACTICS AGAINST AIR TERRORISM TO BE CONSIDERED

The report by a presidential commission said U.S. aviation security is "seriously flawed" and called for preemptive and retaliatory military strikes against state-sponsored terrorists.

That proposal brought no immediate response from the White House or State Department.

But the inquiry into the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 produced scores of nuts-and-bolts recommendations, which Transportation and State department officials, as well as airline representatives, said they are considering.

The Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism issued its final report Tuesday on its investigation of the bombing that killed all 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 and 11 residents of Lockerbie, Scotland, where the plane fell.

The proposals covered reforms in the Federal Aviation Administration, changes in State Department policies, new laws to require more vigilance by airlines, and a warning system to give passengers the option of canceling passage on flights that have been threatened.

The Air Transport Association, which represents major airlines, called together airline security officials for a meeting today in Washington to discuss how some of the proposals might be carried out.

Spokesman Tim Neill said the group would assess which proposals might pose difficulties and try to find ways to implement some of them without FAA action.

Ivan Selin, undersecretary of state for management, was appointed to set up a task force to review the proposals, said spokesman Richard Boucher.

The department already has taken steps to deal better with crises such as airliner bombings, including some recommended by the commission. Victims' relatives had complained of government insensitivity after the Lockerbie bombing.

FAA Administrator James Busey said he dispatched a team Tuesday to work with the commission to decide which of its recommendations could be followed.

Busey said he would go ahead with plans to install sophisticated bomb detectors in six airports but would await the results of studies of the systems before pursuing an order that airlines install scores more.

Among panel recommendations that officials are expected to consider are:

More aggressive efforts to protect American passengers abroad, including the appointment of a special ambassador for international aviation security.

Phase-in of anti-terrorist measures at U.S. airports with the appointment of federal security coordinators at key terminals.

Passage of laws to require criminal records checks of all airport employees, to impose additional fines against airlines that endanger passenger's lives with lax security, and to provide financial payments to victims of terrorist acts.

Increased training for airport and airline security personnel.

More scrutiny of mail and cargo carried aboard airliners.

Stronger security measures for checked luggage and for people with access to airliners.