NEW YORK--A security breach in April at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in which two government officials were able to enter a secure area without proper identification, brings to light the challenge airports face in ensuring proper access privileges. In an effort to maintain greater certainty over access control, more and more airports are considering adopting biometric technology.

"Many of us in the aviation industry sought for many years continual improvement and enhancement in the security of airports, and we recognized that identity verification credentialing will be made most certain when linked to biometrics," said Jeanne Olivier, general manager, aviation security and technology for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Olivier is one of the leaders of the Biometric Airport Security Identification Consortium, a pilot program started last year to test and analyze various biometric technologies at airports nationwide.

The consortium, which began in 2008, has grown from six participating airports to 32, said Carter Morris, senior vice president of transportation security policy at the American Association of Airline Executives.

"It's important to be working cooperatively and share best practices between airports based on technical standards and commonly accepted practical implementation," he said. "The practical, applied approach is what our focus is."

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has been testing various biometric technologies, including iris and fingerprint readers, since 2001, said Olivier.

"We're building a database of information that's exchanged among the committee and shared with colleagues throughout the country," she said. "We want to know how it's working, their wish list and challenges. That's part of the purpose of the committee. Each of us exchanges information and serves as a resource to build information."

While the results are only available through BASIC, Olivier said the consortium is in the process of building a Web site where it will share and exchange data with outside parties.

The intelligence gathered from various airports will be presented to the Transportation Security Association, which has pledged to provide an approved vendor list and standard specifications. While it's necessary to have federal oversight regarding technology, Olivier said awaiting approval for technology is an impediment for airports taking steps to invest in biometric technology.

"Many airports would like to move forward, but won't if they feel like other standards may come along and conflict with the direction they're moving in," she said. "They want confidence the standards are there and everyone's going to play by them."