FAA Names Sylvia Garcia of Kansas City International National Screener of the Year

WASHINGTON--Jane F. Garvey, administrator of the U.S.
Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), and representatives from the aviation industry today
presented this year's National Screener of the Year Award to
Sylvia A. Garcia, a preboard screener at Kansas City International
Airport, Kansas City, Mo. Garcia, an employee with ITS Inc.,
received the award in a ceremony at FAA Headquarters.

"We often think of security as a nuisance when we run through the
airports to make our flights," Garvey said. "Yet every year,
security screeners keep hundreds of weapons and other
dangerous objects from getting on our planes. It can be a
thankless job, so I am very pleased today to tell Sylvia Garcia
and others like her how much we appreciate her dedication and
vigilance."

Associate Administrator for Civil Aviation Security Mike Canavan
also recognized Garcia and thanked all of the nation's aviation
security screeners. "Screeners at the airports form the front line
of defense for the flying public," he said. "Sylvia Garcia's
dedication to public safety is an example for all of us who work in
security."

Garcia has worked at Kansas City International Airport for four
years as a preboard screener for several airlines, including
Continental, Northwest, USAirways, American, America West and
Frontier. She has received numerous awards from her company
and the airport, and was selected as a member of the ITS
Captains Log, an award reserved for only the top 5 percent of the
11,000 ITS screeners nationwide. Garcia has passed every airline
and FAA test throughout the year and has a 100 percent detection
rate. In addition, she has stopped 11 unauthorized items, including
mace, toy guns and knives. She is committed to customer
service as well as to security, and frequently uses her bilingual
skills to assist international travelers through the security process.

Every year, the average screener examines more than 300,000
bags and 150,000 passengers. Screeners detect nearly 2,000
dangerous items every year. The FAA, Air Transport Association,
Regional Airline Association, National Air Carrier Association, Air
Line Pilots Association and American Association of Airport
Executives sponsor this annual award to honor the best security
screener from a pool of regional winners.