TSA Transportation Security Agency Specifically Airport Security

Aviation Security after 911

In recent times, airport and aviation security have become an important aspect of aviation industry. Significant changes in airport and aviation security have been witnessed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Notable changes include new airport security procedures, implementation of advanced screening and scanning technologies. New airport security measures include arrival of passengers two hours before their flight if traveling in domestic flight and random screening of luggage. Such measures had been introduced in order to promote aviation security in order to prevent terrorist activities. Advanced screening and security were needed to combat the threat of terrorism and therefore, to avert such attacks, transportation security agency was formed during the Bush administration. The goal of aviation security is to provide maximum security and safety to air passengers and employees, to capture terrorists and to ensure that 9/11 attacks do not occur again. The goal of this paper is to analyze the topic of aviation security after 9/11 in the lights of broad and diverse academic resources.

Formation of Transportation Security Agency

After 9/11, Transportation Security Agency had been created in order to improve aviation and airport security in order to deal with terrorist attacks. TSA works collaboratively with local and regional agencies in order to promote security in the transportation sector including railroads, buses, subways, ports and highways (DiLascio 123). However, it primarily focuses on airport security to avert terrorist attacks. Duties of TSA in terms of aviation security revolve around screening baggage and passengers at all American airports. TSA also collaborates with law enforcement agencies to avert the risk of baggage theft. In 2007, an operation was carried out by TSA in which weapons were stolen by airport employees (DiLascio 124).

New Technologies and Privacy Issues

In the year 2010, WBI or whole body imaging systems had been introduced at American airports by TSA in order to promote airport security and to reduce the risk of terrorism. Such systems were used previously as part of experimental studies in order to determine their effectiveness. WBI systems are now the main screening systems at airports and utilize the usage of advance technology, which can effectively catch the smallest details. Currently, two AIT systems have been employed by TSA, which are: Rapiscan Secure 1000 and Provision System (DiLascio 125). The former operates on X-rah backscatter technology and the latter employs wave imaging technology. Critics assert that this technology invades privacy and refer it as "virtual strip search" (Seidenstat 276). For this purpose, TSA also provides the option of pat-down search in order to deal with privacy concern. It should be noted that this technology can only identify conceal objects but cannot detect or reveal explosives. Upon detection of concealed object, further inspection is made. Procedures include visual inspection, pat-down procedures and conducting tests to determine whether the individual is carrying an explosive or not by taking the sample from his or her clothing or skin.

From surveys, it has been suggested that about 70 to 80% of American citizens approve the usage of AIT systems in order to promote aviation and airport security. However, some groups have asserted that these systems invade privacy (DiLascio 134). One such group is the American Civil Liberties Union, which assert that this system of body screening invades privacy and gives comprehensive details of body. Furthermore, complete body imaging of children is of great concern as it is difficult to determine whether it breaks laws regarding child pornography (Seidenstat 277). Upon detecting of an unidentified object, the passenger is also subjected to pat-down procedures. Frequently, sexual harassment charges have been made by female passengers asserting that such procedures allow and promote inappropriate touching. .

New Policies and Framework

The issue of airport and aviation security has significant attention since the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, which completely destroyed the World Trade Center and killed hundreds of innocent people. The tragic event raised security concern and changed the face of aviation security in the twenty first century (Nicholson 14). These terrorist attacks called for greater aviation security and thus, led to the formation of Transportation Security Agency in 2001. Drastic changes were witnessed in airport security measures and tools such as knives, box cutters and screwdrivers were banned. In 2002, increased security measures concentrated on checking baggage for explosives (Nicholson 14). In 2004, domestic and international passengers needed to remove their jackets for screening. Selected passengers would also be subjected to pat-down procedures (Nicholson 14). In some cases, passengers were asked to remove their shoes for further inspection.

There is no doubt that billions of dollars have been invested after 9/11 in order to enhance aviation security to avert terrorist attacks and to combat terrorist activities. Wide ranging procedures implemented by TSA also include passenger screening, for which metal detectors are used, screening for baggage is done by x-ray scanners and WBI is used to detect unidentified objects and explosives. Furthermore, pre-screening tests have also been implemented in order to compare the names of travellers provided by the airlines. Furthermore, in 2010, WBI scanners were introduced in airports and pat-down procedures were further enhanced. The cost associated with screening of passengers in airports is more than three billion dollars per annum (Seidenstat 279). In 2002, TSA was successful in taking over screening duties from private companies. Modification and changes were made in policies and procedures by TSA and temporarily objects such as nail clippers could not be carried by passengers (DiLascio 144). Furthermore, coffee cups were not allowed. Furthermore, baggage matching has been implemented to promote airport security. New policies also include checking of shoes, jackets and belts. Furthermore, passengers cannot carry liquid items with them.

How American Public View Aviation Security?

In the year 2009, explosives were found in the underwear of a Nigerian man in a plane and therefore, this led to the introduction and implementation of WBI technology at airports (DiLascio 145). This was done to promote aviation security and to see unidentified objects if hidden underneath the passenger's clothes. As mentioned earlier, these scanners were previously used in experimental studies in order to understand their effectiveness. The TSA's decision to employ WBI scanners that used Advanced Imaging Technology was met with severe criticism from the American agencies and public. The first issue raised by the public was that of privacy concern. Furthermore, pat-down procedures have been further enhanced in the case if the passenger refuses to get screened by AMT screeners (Seidenstat 279). The new pat-down procedures allows the TSA employee to use hands and palm to detect items from thighs, breasts and groin area.

These measures have been severely criticized by the public as they believe that they violate privacy and subject the passenger to humiliation. In the year 2009, more than 900 complaints were made to the American Civil Liberties Union from passengers in a period of one month (Seidenstat 279). Another group known as We Won't Fly asserts that alternative modes of transportation should be used to boycott air travel and to ensure that the TSA removes these strict security measures (Seidenstat 280). On the other hand, there is evidence that the public supports the TSA enhanced security measures. A survey was conducted by CBS, where one thousand participants were interviewed through telephones in the year 2010 (Seidenstat 280). From the survey, it was found out that 81% of the participants supported the usage of WBI technology to promote security and to detect unidentified objects to promote aviation and passenger security. In another 2010 survey conducted by Langer Associates, it has been verified that 70% of respondents fully approve of WBI technology (Seidenstat 282). The same survey also reveals that 60% of the respondents feel that new pat-down procedures violate privacy and are intrusive.