In-line security system could save millions.

• Position: SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs

While the Transportation Security Administration struggles to hire and keep baggage screeners, the Government Accountability Office said changing the explosive detection system for checked bags would save millions for taxpayers and reduce labor costs.

Cathleen Berrick, GAO's director of homeland security and justice issues, said a study of nine airports showed that changing to an in-line system, where bags are scanned on conveyor belts that deliver bags to planes, would save taxpayers $1 billion over seven years. The cost of installing such a system to all but one of the airports would be recovered within one year.

Current systems require transportation security officers to hand feed stand-alone machines. This results in disability due to back injuries, and makes the process more labor intensive.

One of the nine airports studied, however, would require extensive structural changes and result in a $90 million loss over seven years.

Gregory Principato, president of Airports Council International-North...