Security System at the United States Airports - Research Paper Example

Running head: SECURITY SYSTEM AT THE UNITED S AIRPORTS Security system at the United s airports Insert Insert Insert Instructor’s Name 7 April 2011 Outline Introduction Transportation security Conclusion References Security system at the United States airports Introduction The airport security systems in America are the responsibility of various institutions as well as the players in the aviation industry. In 1974, the main and critical structure of security in civil aviation had already been established. This security system was that was operating on September 11, 2001required sharing of responsibilities among the congress, the airports authorities, the airlines and the FAA. The FAA was mandated with the responsibility of setting the least security requirements needed to govern the airport as well as the air carriers. In addition to this, the FAA has the power to ensure the standards set are met through issuing of fine, undertaking inspections, and revoking operating certificates. The responsibilities undertaken by the air carriers were preventing unauthorized entry to the plane, screening of baggage, passengers and cargo and training of the crewmembers on emergency tactics and procedures. The airports on their part had the responsibility of ensuring ample security is provided within the airport premises by stationing of law enforcement officers. The congress is also mandated with the responsibility of legislating aviation security law and undertakes partial implementation of the same laws (Johnstone & National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, 2006, p. 24). In the past, the security policies in United States and the world at large have mainly been established after a public’s reactions to different incidents of insecurity. A good example is the use of air marshals in the 1960s by airlines due to the numerous hijacking that were taking place at that time. It was soon after, that the U.S. government established laws to tackle the air piracy. Transportation security One of the main aspects that surround the national security of United States is the transportation process from and to the United States. In addition to this transportation within the borders of the nation is also part and parcel of the national security aspects. The September 11, attacks not only indicated the weaknesses of United states air port security systems but also the role that the air transport plays in the national security of America. Privatization of airport security is said to have raised a debate in the public domain. The approach used by United States in tackling the issue of airport security is much more different as compared to its European allies. In the European nations, the security inspection is normally undertaken by private contractors, while in America government control on airport operations has become visible especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The mare fact that terrorists had access to the airport facilities and airlines and thus using the airlines as their weapons of mass destruction only goes on to indicate the drastic measures needed to tackle the weaknesses of our airport security systems. According to Verkuil, this airport security system has incorporated private employees who are working on the behalf of the airlines and over seen by the Federal Aviation Administration. Previously, the airlines perceived and regarded the security function as one of the item of cost control and passed on its quality measures downwards. This is one of the reasons that makes the security systems fail in their critical purposes (Verkuil, 2007, p. 57 & 58). The largest aviation system of security was implemented in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These terrorist attacks were not only a wakeup call to the American government but also to the world as well. The public debate still lingers on whether the government could have taken extra steps to prevent the terrorist attacks. The White House Commission on Aviation Safety established by President Bill Clinton and chaired by Al Gore the then vice president indicated that the aviation security should be considered by the federal government as a national security issue. The Gore commission also stated that the aviation security responsibility lied on the shoulders of the government and not the airlines that have been conducting security checks and screening since1970s. In the year 1970s, the rate of hijackings had increased tremendously and the situation had overpowered the ability of air marshals that had been incorporated in the previous years to tackle this menace. It is at this point that the United States government sought for another alternative. The screening technology was soon adapted at the airports. This technology mainly focused on screening the passengers and the carry-on luggage for any weapons. The X-ray machines and metal detectors incorporated in the screening technology would detect any guns and grenades that were mainly used by the hijackers. However, this did not mean that the airports were now safe and sound as the hijackers opted for plastic explosives that could not be detected by the metal detectors. The X-ray and metal detection machines were still in use despite the change of tactics by the hijackers to switch to plastic explosives, which cannot be detected by either of the machines. Years before the September 11, attacks it was noted that agents working undercover could manage to penetrate the security systems in major airports across America. This was later to be exhibited after the 9/11 attacks when seven people out of twenty managed to carry knives past the Dulles Airport security. After the attacks of 9/11 a bill was introduced that sought to federalize the workforce of the airport security systems. The bill entailed training, improved performance standards of screeners, and critical stationing of law enforcement agents at checkpoints. The bill was passed unanimously. The focus later shifted to the house bill, which sought to limit the role of the federals in airport security systems. In this bill, the federal supervisors would have been installed at the baggage and passengers screening points while the inspecting and screening itself was left to the private hands. The Congress support for complete federalization was so overwhelming that it forced the president to back off the bill that sought for partial privatization (Verkuil, 2007, p. 59). The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 acted as a wakeup call to the United States government on the transformation and security measures needed at both the existing and the future American Airports. In light of these events, the Aviation and Transport security act was signed into law in addition to the establishment of the new Transport Security Administration (TSA). The main function of the TSA is to provide protection and ensure that the freedom of movement and commerce exists in America’s transportation system. Thousands of federal personnel have been incorporated in the Transport and Security Administration whose task is entailed in screening duties. The air travel has since being under intense scrutiny as compared to any other sector of United States life. Tougher measures and procedures have been introduced especially in the screening operations of millions of baggage and passengers that go through the airports of America. The number of guns and knives intercepted at the various airports in United States have tripled as America has incorporated strong x-ray machines for the scanning the luggage. The Security officials at the airports have made use of sophisticated computer systems that are used in identifying foreign visitors’ arrival and departure from America. In 2006, there was incorporation of additional security measures by the homeland security when a ban was imposed on carrying of gel and liquids in the carry-on luggage. Explosive detection, Access control, and profiling are the main security operations that have been incorporated in the airports (Dempsey, 2008, p. 132). Conclusion The security operations at the airports in United States have been one of the crucial topics of discussion in the public domain. The importance of the security measures at the airports was further indicated by the 9/11 attacks that took America by surprise and further increased the scrutiny of the security systems incorporated at the airport. In order to prevent future circumventing of the security systems at the airports the sophisticated measures and procedures have been put in place. These measures include the use of monitoring computer systems and use of strong x-ray machines used to detect any weaponry items. Approval of the overhaul of aviation security system in America to be controlled ultimately by federal government had a huge impact on the security systems at the airport as the screening system was replaced by a workforce of 28,000 federal personnel. References Dempsey, S. J. (2008). Introduction to Private Security. CA: Thompson Wadsworth. Johnstone, W. R. and National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (2006). 9/11 and the future of transportation security. CT: Green wood Publishing Group, Inc. National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Assessment of Security Technologies for Transportation. (2007). Fusion of security system data to improve airport security. Washington D.C: The National Academies Press. Verkuil, R. P. (2007). Outsourcing sovereignty: why privatization of government functions threatens. NY: Cambridge University Press. Read More