Contemporary Airport Security Issues - Research Paper Example

Airport Security Passengers who travel by air undergo airport security check before bordering airplanes to their respective destination. The security process subjects an individual to rigorous body and luggage screening. Security agencies at the airport use the modern metal detectors and other equipment to ensure that air passengers are safe. Travel advisers usually indicate that a passenger should arrive at the airport two hours early before the departure time in order to facilitate security check. Security issues are of great concern to airport authority and the passengers. Any loophole on the part of airport security may lead to security threat to passengers. Although some people feel airport security infringes on our privacy, it is necessary in order to keep our country and everyone that flies safe. The intention of this paper is to identify the need for security in airports. Arguments for security check at the airport indicate that security checks prevent air terrorism attack (Schneier). The September 11 terrorist attack was a great lesson for the need of tight security at the airport. Analysts argue that proper security screening at the airport prevent passengers with harmful intentions from executing their plans. Some people do not intend to travel, but to blow airplanes. Security check prevents such individuals from bordering planes carrying their weapons of mass destruction. Before the September 11 terror attack, many passengers could carry some weapons. It is quite hard to read what is in the human mind. It is important to take precaution by observing security measures in order to avoid issues of security or terror threats. Terrorists usually look for slightest security weakness in order to execute their terror attack. Research on airport security revealed that the cost of preventing security attack is quite cheaper than the cost of security damage. Airport security seeks to protect facilities serving in the aviation industry and the aircraft against unlawful acts (Bajoria). Aviation facilities costs million of dollars thus they require protection from destruction. Mounting a security check at the airport is the only secure way of preventing individuals with ill intentions from carrying out their plans. When individuals with ill intentions get an opportunity to blow an aircraft, the aircraft company would lose its property and workers. This would be harmful to the economy of the country. Aviation industry contributes to the economy through provision of employment, taxes, promotion of trade among others. For a country to realize economic development, airport security must be superb. It is important to note that airplanes are very sensitive and any slight mistake might lead to their crushing. For instance, the infamous September 11 terror attack succeeded because the terrorists were able to hijack and direct the planes to crush. The crush led to wanton destruction of property and lives. Another damage that the crush had to the society is psychological trauma among the terror victims. Whenever a plane crushes, the victims involved suffer due to trauma caused by the tragic incident. Airport security seeks to protect lives of airplane passengers (Leocha). Security provision is the duty of the government. Security checks mounted at the airport seek to provide a safe haven for passengers travelling to various destinations. The world has witnessed all forms of crimes, which include kidnapping and hijacking. Security loophole at the airport may prompt criminals to conduct the heinous crimes in the airplane. Airport security analysts believe that planes are vulnerable to hijacking than any other form of transport. This argument contends that hijacked airplane is difficult to rescue compared to road or rail transport. These necessitate measures that would protect the airplane from any threat that security system would avoid. Airport security helps in identifying wanted criminals (Bajoria). Some wanted criminals might opt to use air transport in order to evade the long arm of the law. Screening process at the airport provide an opportunity to the security department to identify each individual that is about to board a plane. Reporting criminals to the necessary authority is very essential to the society since it helps in eliminating unwanted behavior. Law and order in the society is very important since it promotes respect for human rights. When the airport security system helps homeland security to arrest wanted criminals, it would boost the security of the country. Airport security promotes the growth of aviation industry. Aviation industry relies on passengers in order to remain viable. When passengers fail to use aviation facilities, the industry would fail. Security of the passengers is very is essential since it influences the number of passengers who use air transport. Many people fear to use transport system that would risk their lives. This would influence the economic growth of the aviation industry. Economic growth of the aviation industry depends on the number of consumers of the aviation products (Elias 256). Security is a necessity not an option in the aviation industry because the operation of the industry greatly relies on the effectiveness of the security system. Research conducted on transport system sites security of luggage and passenger as a factor that would influence the consumers of a particular mode of transport. Many passengers contend that security of their lives and property would influence the choice of airline. Security checks conducted in the airport usually helps the government to identify people dealing in illicit trade (Transportation Security Administration). Illicit trade deprives the government from collecting taxes. Sometimes some illicit trade promotes smuggling of drugs, which are dangerous to the society. Some people argue that security measures adopted by airport authority infringe the rights of passengers. The scanners and detectors used by the airport security expose the nakedness of the human body. This infringe on individuals right to privacy. The electronic screens usually expose the human body by showing finer details (Wheeler). This screens help security agents at the airports to frisks passengers who are about to board planes. Some passengers are afraid that their naked photos might be transmitted to the media, thereby infringing their basic human rights. Issues touching on the human rights are very sensitive since the essence of humanity relies on protection of the rights. Security checks consume a lot of time because of the various processes that a passenger has to meet (Wheeler). This is a big challenge to the aviation industry, but it is unavoidable. Largely, the airport security must be contented over individual safety before an individual boards a plane. Analysts in airport transport agree that the security process is quite rigorous, but the aviation industry must adopt it for prosperity. Other argument about security in the airport claim that some passengers fear using air transport because of the new security system scanners. This might influence the growth of industry, but terror attack in the aviation industry would not give an option for relaxing security checks. The Chart above indicates the importance of security at the airport. It is evident that security in the airport is a necessity, not an option because of dangers associated to failed airport security. It is important for the government and the airport security agency to devise a security screening system that would not provide a trace of human naked photos after the exercise (Elias 260). This would help in dispensing fear that some air passengers might harbor against the scanners. Protection of human live is as important as protecting human dignity and rights. The government should insist on integrity of the security agencies in order to uphold the gains in human rights. Air passengers need to acknowledge the essence of security checks conducted at the airports since the security checks protect against any criminal intentions. In conclusion, airport security is very essential since it protect the aviation industry against terrorism. Measures, which aim at protecting or reducing terrorism activities, promote respect to human rights. Airport security protects property of the passengers. Security checks enhance respect to passenger property because it promotes safety of the luggage. Security in the airport promotes the operation of the aviation industry. Aviation facilities are worth millions of dollars; this means that protection of aviation facilities against any ill intention promotes the viability of the industry. Security checks promote respect to human live. Security checks conducted at the airport eliminates possible risks to human life that would result from hijacking of the aircraft. It is also important to note that security of the airport promote economic growth of the industry. Passengers would go for transport system that protects their lives and property. Work cited Bajoria, Jayshree. The Debate Over Airport Security. Retrieved on 6th December 2011, from http://www.cfr.org/air-transportation-security/debate-over-airport-security/p23673 Elias, Bartholomew. Airport and aviation security: U.S. policy and strategy in the age of global terrorism. Florida: CRC Press. 2009. 256-300. Print. Leocha, Charlie. US Travel Association proposes TSA airport security changes. 17th March 2011, Retrieved on 6th December 2011, from http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/ustravel-association-proposed-a-new-approach-to-tsa/ Schneier, Bruce. Post-Underwear-Bomber Airport Security. 7th January 2010, Retrieved on 6th December 2011, from http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/01/airport_securit_12.html Transportation Security Administration. Travel Assistance. Retrieved on 6th December 2011, from http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/index.shtm Wheeler, John. Airport Security. Retrieved on 6th December 2011 from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/security/aviation/airport/airportsecurityreport.pdf Read More