Airport Security

Running head:

Airport Security

David A. Fowler

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract

Through the history of aviation the importance of airport security has steadily increased. Since the disastrous terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, many changes have taken place at airports to prevent such an attack from occurring again. The purpose of this paper is to: outline airport security procedures, discuss the different technologies involved with airport security, as well as examine the components of airport security. In addition I will also discuss the Transportation Security Administration's role in our nation's airport security.

Airport Security

Airport Security is a necessity of Life both in America and through out the world. Without airport security our airports would not be able to function and terrorist attacks resembling those of September 11th, 2001, would be more common place. Passengers would be afraid to fly in fear of such a terrorist attack happening again. The airline industry would lose more revenue from lost ticket sales. Then the airports themselves would lose money from the lack of passengers boarding through their gates. Finally this lack of security would trickle down to the entire economy not only in the communities surrounding the airport and aviation industry, but to the nation's economy as well. To keep this economic failure associated with another terrorist attack from happening, our nation must take the appropriate measures to prevent it.

"Airport security procedures are designed to deter, prevent, and respond to criminal acts that may affect safety and security of the traveling public" Wells and Young (2004, p. 280). In order for this to happen, airports must become more proactive instead of reactive to possible threats such as: hijacking, explosive devices on aircraft or any other possible criminal act that could happen aboard an aircraft. To accomplish President George W. Bush signed into effect the Aviation and Transportation security Act, on November 19th, 2001. This act was a result of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks, and from this act the Transportation Security Administration was formed.

Transportation Security Information

The purpose of the TSA is to protect all of the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. Commercial aviation has been a long-standing target for terrorists. Since the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001, substantial changes have been made to enhance securityÐ'--including the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the federalization of the passenger screener workforce. The TSA was tasked with the tremendous challenge of building a large federal agency responsible for securing all modes of transportation. Funding for the TSA is accomplished by a $2.50 charge per flight segment not to exceed $10.00 round trip, per customer.

The mission as described by the TSA website (www.tsa.gov) is as follows, "The Transportation Security Administration protects the Nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce." The vision of the TSA is, "The Transportation Security Administration will continuously set the standard for excellence in transportation security through its people, processes and technologies. The TSA also states that its values are to have excellence in public service through: integrity, innovation, and teamwork.

As with any government organization the TSA has taken much criticism on its security practices.

However, one must keep in mind that this administration is still in the beginning stages, and much is still to be learned from the mistakes that have been made thus far.

The TSA employees a work force of over 50 thousand federal passenger and baggage screeners at 429 commercial service airports. Out of those 429 airports five have been chosen to be part of a pilot program. In this program the five commercial service airports that were chosen can hire their own passenger and baggage screeners, after a proper background check of each one, in order to help ease the burden of hiring on the TSA and to allow airports to control their own security under TSA regulations. In the future, the number of airports to be inducted into this program is expected to go up to 40 in order to provide a broader test base, of at least 10%.

The TSA has an extensive research and development branch as well. The mission is geared towards anticipating future threats to civil transportation security. In so doing, programs are conducted that accelerate and expand promising technologies to the point of operational test and evaluation. Technologies that have successfully gone through this process have been passed to the Security Equipment Integrated Product Team for deployment in our nation's airports. The research and development goal is to develop systems that are fully integrated into the aviation system; are highly automated, utilizing the strengths of a variety of technologies; and are geared to optimizing the screener's operational performance.

The Transportation Security R&D Division has divided its functions into four interrelated program areas: Explosives and Weapons Detection, Aircraft Hardening, Human Factors, and Airport Security Technology Integration. Each program area makes a significant contribution toward achieving the goals of the transportation security system of the future. The Division conducts R&D projects to develop technologies to protect three major entry points to the aircraft or vectors. The entry points are through checked luggage, the checkpoint (passenger or carry-on bag), and cargo. Other program areas each include Explosives Vulnerability and Mitigation Techniques, Human Factors, and Security of Civil Aviation Airports and Air Carriers.

No single technology can totally address the problem of transportation security. Technology development has not reached a point where it can operate autonomously, i.e., totally without the human operator. Adopting a "systems" approach to security requirements and optimizing each component for low cost, but high performance allows the Division to produce cost-effective solutions for distinct security problems. This approach continues to balance the application of people, procedures, and technology to each threat classification.

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