Controversial aviation security issues still up in the air

House and Senate conferees working to reconcile their differences on the aviation security bill hope to meet this afternoon to ratify some agreements reached by staff over the weekend on issues such as baggage screening deadlines and background checks for airline personnel, aides said.

Aides have met nearly every day since last Wednesday--sometimes twice a day--but have yet to resolve the most controversial issues of whether airport security workers should be federal employees or whether oversight should go to the Justice Department or the Transportation Department.

Monday's American Airlines plane crash in New York, which has been linked to possible a mechanical failure, has likely increased pressure on conferees to reach agreement, but "they see the need to get this done by Thanksgiving anyway," said a spokesman for House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member James Oberstar, D-Minn.

Other issues expected to be addressed at the conference include securing cockpit doors, increasing the number of air marshals, and agreements on handling passenger manifests, key aides said.

Meanwhile, the Business Travel Coalition, which represents businesses that rely on travel, sent a letter to conferees calling for federalizing airport security personnel and indicating corporations' willingness to pay for it through a ticket surcharge.