Aviation Security Requirements - Essay Example

They include terrorism, drug trafficking, accidents, and general crime. The aviation industry has historically been an attractive target to terrorists; this is by far the most potent threat facing the aviation industry.

Several steps have been taken to heighten security in the aviation industry. Security systems were first implemented in airports on a large scale in the 1970s after cases of commercial aircraft hijackings became common (Harris, 2002). This involves the usage of metal detectors to check luggage and passengers, scanning of passengers with metal detection wands, physical checks on luggage, interrogation of suspicious passengers, and strict verification of identification documents. To some extent, these measures have succeeded in reducing the levels of insecurity that existed in the aviation industry. However, criminals always find other ways to defeat the system, as is evident in the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America and past airliner bombings.

The current security policies and regulations in airports could be enhanced to become more effective. Security personnel in airports should be paid higher salaries, as a way of motivating them to perform well in their duties. They should also be better trained since inattentiveness on their part could result in the smuggling of well-hidden bombs and weapons into aircraft by terrorists. It is also necessary to subject these personnel to frequent background checks; there have been cases of staff assisting terrorists to commit their crimes. An example of this is the hijacking of TWA Flight 847, in which staff members aided terrorists by hiding weapons in the washroom; these were later used by the terrorists to carry out their deeds (Harris, 2002). Potential candidates for security personnel jobs in airports should be selectively chosen about their ability to handle these jobs. Such criteria would include possession of cognitive abilities, abstract reasoning, and alertness.

Another feature that should be incorporated into aviation security is regular performance measures on security personnel. This is necessary if security personnel are to maintain high levels of competence in their everyday duties (Harris, 2002). Through these measures, analysis is done on aviation security regulations and individual employees to identify weaknesses and come up with ways of solving them. This is also one way of motivating security personnel to work smarter and more efficiently. The usefulness of new technologies should also be assessed, since new security gadgets may not always give anticipated results.

The aviation industry represents an attractive target for terrorists and criminals. Terrorist attacks on the aviation sector lead to loss of lives, disruption of business activities, damage to infrastructure, and plummeting of financial markets (Jackson et al., 2012). Newer technologies are created every day to prevent and mitigate these threats. Every airline and airport should motivate and assess the performance of its security personnel. Threats facing the aviation industry can never be eliminated. However, with enhanced security regulations and preventive measures, they can be reduced to a manageable level. Read More