by Colleen Chamberlain, Director of Transportation Security Policy, American Association of Airport Executives
http://www.rtconsortium.org/pressRelease.cfm?relId=15
Transportation Security Clearinghouse Announces Launch of World’s Most Advanced Interoperable Information Management System of Its Kind: System Will Enable Operation of Nationwide Registered Traveler Program
ALEXANDRIA, Va., November 27, 2006 ? Today, the Transportation Security Clearinghouse (TSC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), began operation of the world’s most advanced interoperable information management system of travelers’ biometric data ? the Central Information Management System (CIMS). The CIMS is necessary to ensure interoperability, security and efficiency in a nationwide Registered Traveler (RT) program.
The Registered Traveler program provides expedited security screening processes and an extra layer of security for passengers who volunteer biometric and biographic information to a TSA-approved RT vendor and successfully complete a TSA-conducted security threat assessment. RT is a private sector program, supported and overseen by the Transportation Security Administration.
By leveraging the customer service and aviation expertise of the TSC, the CIMS was developed utilizing state-of-the-art technology from Daon, LG Iris Technology Division and Motorola. Within days after TSA’s adoption of the Registered Traveler Interoperability Consortium’s Technical Interoperability Specification, TSC assembled its team of tier-one biometric and identity management companies to meet the interoperability specification requirements by enhancing existing vendor solutions and utilizing best practices of the private sector.
“The TSC along with Daon, LG and Motorola have created an unparalleled information management system”, Carter Morris, AAAE Senior Vice President said. “Today, the pioneering technology of the CIMS will enable the rapid and secure deployment of an interoperable RT program. Tomorrow, the possibilities are endless.”
With the CIMS fully operational, private companies such as Saflink, Unisys, Verified Identity Pass and Vigilant are now able to operate interoperable RT services at participating airports across the country. “A permanent, interoperable and nationwide Registered Traveler program will improve security and efficiency at airports for US air travelers and we’re proud to play such an important role toward that goal” Morris continued.
The CIMS is responsible for several key functions, such as processing all records, interfacing with the TSA for background checks, ensuring a chain of trust from vetted enrollments and issued credentials, and sending alerts to all service providers regarding revoked credentials.