The Effects of 9-11 - Essay Example

The Effects of 9-11 There were found many weaknesses in security screening methods prior to 9-11 attacks. The bad performance of screeners produced the unsatisfactory identification of harmful objects. The second prescreening process that only focused on identifying objects made possible airplane bombers and not on potential hijackers and third, negligent checkpoint screening etc. According to a report, which was published in June 2000, screeners neglected the 20 percent dangerous items that were used in an experiment by the State Aviation Management.

There were many other failures that contributed to the 9-11 attacks like lack of in-flight safety actions like bulletproof cockpit doors, lack of protocols for implementing a coordinated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the access control problem in airport. In 1998 and 1999, a test was performed whose main purpose was to know if security could be broken, the special agent were able to get the access to secure areas and board the aircraft 117 times 68% in all tries. It was done at 8 different airports.

In May 2000, a report stated that special agent used fake identifications to reach on these security areas at two different airports. They sent security checkpoints and reached to departure gates of airport. These agents might have harmful items like explosive and missiles onto the aircraft (Dillingham 2). Many Improvements were made to change security and intelligence tactics in the weak areas e.g. founding a state security screener labor force under TSA at airfields, requiring explosive detection screening of all checked bags and strengthening the cockpit doors.

Through FAA the access to secure areas also has been improved. FAA is also working on “smart card” that will confirm the identity of workplaces and approval for bypassing passenger screening. (Dillingham 5)Development of many programs for screening and recognizing danger items are in process. Some other security measures were made for avoiding probable terrorist attacks such as checking of passengers’ shoes at the gate.Many security programs have been implemented e.g. The Known Shipper Program and the Federal Air Marshall Program.

The FAA has also implemented the Threat Image Projection (TIP) systems. TIP systems aware screeners by showing them the images of dangerous items on screens of X- ray machines and they also measure the screener performance by noticing threat items. A new fingerprinting system is also implemented and used in many international airports. I think, before the September 11 attacks, there was a great weakness in the aviation security system but huge improvements on airport security system were made and implemented and these changes are adequate and hopefully it would not take another terrorist attack to do so.

In my view, the security changes have addressed the weaknesses in 9-11 attacks e.g. the progress on airport security system and programs comprising the implementation of new biometrics approaches .I know that due to these security changes, passengers have to face delay and problems but with the implementation of new security methods and technology in airports, we are able to faster detect the incidents like 9-11 in airports and on many other zones where terrorist might have access.References:“Airport Security.

” ABC7 News Top Stories. 27 Feb., 2002. 11May, 2005 Dillingham, Gerald L. “Weaknesses in Airport Security and Options for Assigning Screening Responsibilities.” The Government Accountability Office. 21 Sept., 2001. 11 May, 2005 Roberto Lam, “Security Methods in Airports since 9/11”, June 2005