STATEMENT BY CHERYL K. PETERSEN PRESIDENT, LOS ANGELES BOARD OF AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS ON THE RELEASE OF THE LAX UNIFIED COMMAND STUDY BY CTI CONSULTING SERVICES

( Los Angeles , California – March 24, 2005 ) Members of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) today received the report of CTI Consulting Services concurrent with its release to other interested parties, including Mayor Jim Hahn, Los Angeles City Council members, police commissioners and representatives of Los Angeles-based law enforcement agencies. The report is available for public viewing at http://www.countertech.com. CTI is a leading aviation security consulting firm based in Bethesda , Maryland , founded in 1984.

This independent study by outside experts was requested by the City Council last year. BOAC agreed to fund the study at a cost of $900,000 paid from airport funds because of its desire to ensure Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the other Los Angeles World Airports facilities have the best possible security for customers, tenants and employees. CTI was selected to perform the study by a panel consisting of representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, City of Inglewood Police Department, Los Angeles World Airports, RAND Corporation, and air carriers serving LAX. The study by CTI included a peer review process involving a panel of city and airport police chiefs from throughout the United States .

This is an important report that needs to be carefully studied and considered; thus, it is too soon to comment on the findings and recommendations contained in the report. The Board of Airport Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, March 30, to receive a briefing from CTI officials on the study and get answers to any questions commissioners may have after carefully reading the report.