New York Sen. Charles Schumer wants daily federal screening of airport and airline workers for weapons, and he may get what he wants.
His proposal is a reaction to last month's arrests of five men accused of smuggling guns through the New York and Atlanta airports.
Late Thursday, the federal office of Homeland Security announced it would study the impact of such screening.
Michael Giardino, the director of the Rochester airport wants to hear more, "We haven't seen anything specific in the Senator's plan and would be interested to see those specifics."
Currently, pilots and flight crews, as well as passengers, pass through TSA metal detectors. But Schumer said many employees who work in the secure sections of airports are exempt.
Giardino added, "We think we have a pretty good system in place, but we would always be open to improvement."
Schumer said he's asking the Transportation Security Administration to immediately require all U.S. airports to screen staff when they start work.
Schumer says the TSA can require the screening now and does not need a new law. He also said it would be an inexpensive fix that, at most, would add “pennies'' to the cost of an airline ticket.
"Whatever TSA would mandate, or Homeland Security would mandate, we would comply with that mandate," said Giardino.
The decision by Homeland Security and the TSA to study the request prompted this reaction from Sen. Schumer: "I am pleased that Secretary Jeh Johnson has called for an immediate and comprehensive review of airline employee screening and other security measures at our nation’s airports; it is clear that he is not taking lightly the recently exposed, gaping hole in our airport security. When it is as easy to carry guns, explosives and drugs onto an airplane as a neck pillow, it’s high time to overhaul how airports are required to screen employees with access to secure areas of an airport. I urge DHS to conduct a swift and thorough review, and to implement tough new security screening requirements thereafter, in order to protect American fliers, and all citizens."