Washington D.C. — The second annual Advanced Technologies for Airport Security (ATAS) conference held early February reflected an oft-repeated sentiment in airport security circles — the technology exists, so why isn’t it being used? The invitation-only conference brought together the major players — airport operators, consultants, and technology companies (who also sponsored the conference) — to share their experiences.

Keynote speaker Charles Slepian, founder and CEO of the Foreseeable Risk Analysis Center, says it is up to airport operators to take the lead on security advances. “Your industry is under attack,” Slepian says.

“You’ve got to be more vocal. You’ve got to be more willing to think out of the box.”

Mark Denari, director of aviation security and public safety at San Diego Regional Airport Authority, agrees. “We are on our own in so many ways,” Denari says. “We’re left to our own devices to meet these federal regulations to somehow detect, prevent, deter.”

However, waiting around for federal regulations and mandates is not the best approach, Denari says. “The federal government is going to do anything except encourage us. The enterprise is solely on the airport operator to make those moves.”

Comments Slepian, “I have heard very little from the government in regard to the problem of aviation security except to condemn a failure that takes place in the airport. There is no proactive thinking coming from Congress. There’s been no proactive thinking coming from the executive branch.”

Slepian says the government’s solution is to just throw money at the problem. “They’re able to get away with it because the public is ignorant. A demonstration project by Flir or Siemens, with the proper P.R. and media coverage on what you can do to change what exists, is a good first step. Because TSA is not going to do it on its own.

“If the public demands it, the government will legislate it. And so, demonstration projects are really what you need.”