+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media    | **Advisory**                                          |
| /image1.wmf) |                                                       |
|              | **Circular**                                          |
| U.S.         |                                                       |
| Department   |                                                       |
|              |                                                       |
| of           |                                                       |
| Tr           |                                                       |
| ansportation |                                                       |
|              |                                                       |
| **Federal    |                                                       |
| Aviation**   |                                                       |
|              |                                                       |
| **Admi       |                                                       |
| nistration** |                                                       |
+--------------+-------------------------------------------------------+

**AC 108-3**

**DATE: 11/06/1981**

AC No: 108-3

Date: 11/6/81

Initiated

by: ACS-100

Subject: SCREENING OF PERSONS CARRYING U.S. CLASSIFIED MATERIAL

1\. PURPOSE. To provide instructions for the screening of

passengers carrying classified material in order to maintain the

integrity of the screening process and prevent the compromise of

classified material.

2\. BACKGROUND. On occasion, personnel of the Federal Government

and personnel of contractors to the Federal Government have a

need and are authorized to carry material containing information

classified in the interest of the national security. Due to the

requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations, all passengers

and their carry-on items must be screened prior to boarding

scheduled air carrier aircraft. Carry-on items which contain

classified material, if routinely examined, could subject the

information to compromise.

3\. CLASSIFIED MATERIAL SCREENING PROCEDURES. Persons carrying

Government classified materials shall be screened in the same

manner as other passengers except for the following:

a\. The passenger should inform the carrier representative

classified materials are being carried and should present an

official U.S. Government or company identification and travel

documentation. In most instances, the classified materials being

carried will be contained in sealed envelopes or small packages.

In these instances, the passenger is to report to the screening

station for routine processing. At that point, the classified

material shall be processed by X-ray examination where such

equipment is available and where such processing is feasible.

The classified material shall contain no metal bindings and shall

be in sealed envelopes or packages. If the envelopes/packages

containing the classified material, the passenger\'s other carry-

on baggage and the passenger successfully complete the required

screening, the passenger shall be permitted to board. Where

there is no X-ray equipment in use, the person screening the

carry-on baggage should be able to inspect envelopes containing

classified material to assure the absence of weapons by flexing,

feel, weight, etc., without opening the envelopes. In the event

that the person conducting the screening is not satisfied and

there is doubt as to the contents of the envelopes, the passenger

shall not be permitted to board with the envelopes. Opening of

the envelopes containing classified material by screening

personnel is not authorized and should never be attempted.

b\. In a few instances, classified material will be in sealed

packages which, because of size, weight, or other physical

characteristics, are not suitable for processing as specified

above. Persons carrying such material shall be screened in the

same manner as other passengers, except for the following:

\(1\) The Federal Government or contractor official who

has authorized the transport of the classified material shall

notify an official of the appropriate air carrier in advance of

the travel. Upon notification, the carrier should advise the

authorizing official that the courier should be instructed to

report to the airline ticket counter upon arriving at the air

terminal. Upon arrival at the ticket counter, a carrier

representative shall check the courier\'s identifying

documents.

\(2\) Federal Government and contractor personnel shall

present an identification card or credential bearing a

photograph, description data, and signature of the individual.

(If the identification card does not carry descriptive data,

i.e., date of birth, height, weight, or signature, these items

must be included in the courier letter of authorization described

below.) Federal personnel will present official identification

issued by their agencies. Contractor personnel will present

identification issued by the contracting firm or company

employing the individual or an identification issued by the U.S.

Government. In the latter instance, the identification card will

carry the name of the employing contractor or otherwise be marked

to denote \"contractor.

\(3\) Federal Government and contractor personnel shall

also present the original of a letter authorizing the individual

to carry classified material. A reproduced copy is not

acceptable. The letter may contain a preprinted endorsement for

authentication by an official at the destination in cases in

which round-trip carrying is involved. The traveler, however,

shall provide an authenticated copy to each airline involved.

The letter should be prepared on letterhead stationery of the

agency or contractor employing the individual. In those

instances where an individual visiting another agency of a

contractor is given classified information which he/she must

transport by return trip and has no letter from his/her

organization covering the material, the letter of authorization

will be prepared on the letterhead stationery of the agency or

contractor being visited. The letter of authorization should:

\(a\) Give the full name of the individual and the

employing agency or company.

\(b\) Describe the type identification the individual

will present (e.g., Naval Research Laboratory Identification

Card, No. 1234, ABC Corporation Card, No. 1234).

\(c\) Describe the material being carried (e.g.,

three sealed packages, 9\" x 18\" x 24\", addressee, and addressor).

\(d\) Identify the point of departure, destination,

and known transfer points.

\(e\) Carry a date of issue and an expiration date

not exceeding seven days from the date of issue.

\(f\) Carry the names, title, signature, and

telephone number of the official issuing the letter. Each

package or carton to be exempt will be signed on its face by the

official who signed the letter.

\(g\) Carry the name of the Government agency

designated to confirm the letter of authorization and its

telephone number. The telephone number of the agency designated

shall be a U.S. Government official number that is subject to

verification for both Government and contractor use.

\(4\) If satisfied with the identification and the letter

of authorization, the carrier representative shall provide the

passenger with an escort to the screening station and authorize

the screening personnel to exempt the classified packages from

physical or other type inspection. The passenger and all other

items the passenger may be carrying shall be subject to normal

screening. If the airline representative is not satisfied with

the authenticity of the passenger or the documentation presented,

he/she should contact a representative of the authorizing

official for appropriate verification. If the airline

representative is still not satisfied, the passenger shall not be

permitted to carry the classified packages aboard. In these

instances, the U.S. agency or company involved should be advised

of the situation. If the situation warrants, the Federal Bureau

of Investigation should also be advised.

4\. ARMED FORCES COURIER SERVICES (ARFCOS) SCREENING PROCEDURES.

The ARFCOS has been specifically designated by the Department of

Defense to escort courier material classified TOP SECRET that is

considered highly sensitive by the Federal Government. All

branches of the Federal Government and qualified contractors of

the Government may be served by ARFCOS in the transportation of

these types of materials.

a\. In most instances, material in the custody of ARFCOS

couriers will be of such volume as to require loading in the

aircraft cargo compartment. The loading of this material will be

under the supervision of a representative of the carrier, but it

must be accompanied by and under constant surveillance of ARFCOS

personnel who will remain on guard until the cargo compartment is

secured. In accordance with Air Transport Association policy,

air carriers will normally accept ARFCOS Forms 9 and 14 as

authorization for ARFCOS couriers to gain access to sterile ramp

areas. The ARFCOS courier will be the last passenger to board

the aircraft and the first to deplane. Off-loading procedures

will also be observed by the ARFCOS courier. The carrier

concerned will be given sufficient advance notification by the

dispatching Armed Forces Courier Station in order that

arrangements for transporting the courier material to the

aircraft can be completed.

b\. Hand-carried ARFCOS material will be placed in an ARFCOS

courier pouch, then secured with an ARFCOS lock. Screening

procedures as outlined in 3 above will be followed.

c\. ARFCOS courier personnel are not armed and may or may not

be in military uniform. All such persons will be identified by

both their military and an ARFCOS identification card (ARFCOS

Form 9, buff with a red stripe, or Form 14, blue with a red

stripe) in addition to the prescribed letter of authorization.

d\. It is incumbent upon the courier to assure that

appropriate arrangements are made at the destination for secure

storage of classified material as may be required.

/s/ Richard F. Lally

Director of Civil Aviation Security