International Intra Cooperation in Aviation Security

¶ … intra and inter-agency cooperation in the context of aviation security, since the 9/11 attacks. The paper will also look into obstacles to cooperation and how to mitigate them.

Means of Inter-Intra Agency Cooperation Increase

Aviation Operational Threat Response Plan recommends systematized and all-inclusive protocols for guaranteeing a well-organized and successful governmental response to threats from airborne sources against the country and its welfare. The Aviation Transportation System Recovery Plan outlines a set of strategies for mitigating the economic and operational impacts of an aerial attack, in addition to measures, which will allow the Aviation Transport System, as well as other concerned private sector and governmental aviation-connected groups, to rapidly recover from these kinds of attacks (Aviation Transportation System Security Plan, 2007). Efforts for further reducing susceptibilities in each critical system area are maintained, increased, and improved by the Aviation Transportation System Security Plan. The Plan guides forceful efforts for: (1) ensuring that all individuals entering or availing themselves of the Aviation Transport System are identified and screened or vetted; (2) ensuring the U.S. Government takes every possible measure to notice and stop weapon use against Air Domain elements, or use of Aviation Transport System for transporting weapons, being used as a weapon, or serving as a medium to disperse weapons, such as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE), including explosives in liquid form; and (3) reinforcing key infrastructural components of Aviation Transport System against any other form of attack, like stand-off weaponry and Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, cyber-attacks, etc.

Passengers who fly to the U.S. from other nations now need to get electronic devices (e.g., cellphones) to pass additional security checks prior to boarding planes, under the most recent policy of the Transport Security Administration (TSA), for safeguarding against the danger of a novel form of terrorist attack. It has been claimed by the TSA that only specific foreign airports are required to perform these added inspections (U.S. increases security at foreign airports, with focus on cellphone, other electronic devices, 2014). One more aspect is that electronic devices that do not power up will be permitted on-board and their owners may be subject to further scrutiny prior to boarding. The agency has stated in an announcement that travelers are aware that every electronic device undergoes screening by security officials.

The enhanced security at airports is almost definitely in response to fresh intelligence reports indicating that Syrian terrorists with Al Qaeda links are working together with Al Qaeda members in Arabia on a plan for blowing up a commercial airplane heading for Europe or the U.S., according to a report by ABC News. Westerners, including U.S. citizens, have flown to Syria in the last12 months for joining the Al Nusra Front in its attempt to overthrow the government of Syria. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, ordered additional security measures to be established at a few foreign airports that have direct U.S. flights, on the basis of intelligence, suggesting fresh efforts by the Al Qaeda to develop an explosive that airport security can't detect. Johnson stated that he and his colleagues in the U.S. government would continue assessing whether enhanced security is required for domestic flights in the U.S. (U.S. increases security at foreign airports, with focus on cellphone, other electronic devices, 2014). It has been suggested by some experts that this sort of apparatus would be embedded in an electronic device (e.g. a laptop). Johnson reported that their job is striving to foresee the succeeding attack, rather than merely reacting to the previous one. Thus, he asserts that they are constantly evaluating the situation throughout the globe; they are aware of terror threats to the nation, and security in the aviation field is a key element of that. It is reported that the UK is also enhancing security measures alongside the aviation sector and international partners. Authorities further noted that they do not believe there will be any major disruptions for travelers -- they will ensure that the threat level doesn't rise.

Hindrances to Cooperation

Inter-agency differences, which include differences among structures, financial backers, and planning processes of different agencies, can hamper collaboration between agencies, possibly wasting scarce and valuable resources, reducing the efficacy of federal endeavors. For instance, different budgets finance national intelligence and defense activities (Key Issues for Congressional Oversight of National Security Strategies, Organizations, Workforce, and Information Sharing, 2009). Funding disagreements among the two different budgets resulted in the initial date of operating capability for a recent space radar initiative being moved back one year. Systems for coordination are neither formalized nor completely utilized in all cases; this potentially limits their efficacy in improving collaboration among agencies. Thus agencies can consider devising and following a sound, central coordination plan.

While there are some agencies of the American government that have created or revised comprehensive plans on issues of national security, the Government Accountability Office reports that in a few instances, (e.g., American governmental efforts at improving the governing ability of Iraqi ministries), the efforts of USA have been obstructed by various agencies with individual efforts that lack an all-encompassing plan (Key Issues for Congressional Oversight of National Security Strategies, Organizations, Workforce, and Information Sharing, 2009). A strategy that outlines coordination mechanisms and organizational responsibilities and roles can, in particular, assist agencies in clarifying who will head or take part in activities, manage their individual and joint endeavors, and aid the decision-making process.