ANALYSIS OF AIRPORT SECURITY WITH REGARD TO EXPLOSIVES IN CARRY-ON LUGGAGE OR IN PERSON
Loading...
Authors
Sommeso, Joseph
Issue Date
2008
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The threat to America’s airports, planes, passengers, and crew is real. The threat must be eliminated at the airport battlefront. The war is fought daily in America’s large and small airports through various means - technological as well as consistent adherence to procedures, increased passenger awareness, and better training of individuals involved in screening processes.
Despite almost 7 years since four hijacked jets killed 2998 people from 80 different countries in the processor being used as missiles to destroy the World Trade Centers in New York City, a wing of the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and a farm field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, America’s airports, planes, passengers and crews remain vulnerable to terrorists — both domestic and foreign.
Airport security has not evolved to take advantage of technology that could mitigate significant risk. While metal detectors eliminate the risk of weapons being taken through security, explosives remain the immediate threat. The major drawback of metal detectors is its inability to detect plastics and liquids which are the major components of most explosives.
To meet the needs today’s airport threat, an ideal portal would be able to screen a person for weapons, drugs of explosives in real time without impeding the traffic flow. Security checkpoints are but one of the 20 layers of security to protect aviation. Other layers include intelligence gathering and analysis, checking passenger manifests against watch lists, random canine team searches, federal air marshals, federal flight deck officers, and more layers visible and invisible to the public. One layer alone is ineffective but multiple layers can pre-empt, deter, or foil a terrorist attack before or at the Security checkpoint. Technology must continue to evolve to support the vulnerabilities identified and reduce the risk of another terrorist attack using this nation’s airport as well as procedures at the security checkpoints being followed carefully and constantly monitored.