September 11, changed the entire worlds attitude on airport security, and how important of a concern the nations airport security was and will continue to be. The terrorist attacks also showed the entire world how easily the old security technologies were to manipulate, and how much improvement airports need before they can truly be considered secure. The evolution of airport security technologies has taken place over very few years, but will continue until the existence of airports. September 11, 2001 was a day that would forever change the way the world viewed terrorism and closely related to that was how the world would view airport security technologies. On this deadly day, four airplanes were hijacked from several different major airline industries, all airplanes intended to crash into an astonishing place. Two of the hijacked airplanes crashed into each one of the world trade center towers, bringing them to an eventual pile of rubbish.
A plane was crashed into the Pentagon, while a fourth plane was taken down in an empty field, causing no physical damage, but causing emotional damage to all the friends and loved ones of the people who died in the plane crash. Immediately this was considered the largest terrorist attack in the history of the United States, if not the world, resulting in the death of thousands and the pain of millions around the world. For obvious reasons airport security came under the microscope following the terrorist attacks. The men who hijacked the planes did so with box cutters which were brought on the plane. This brought on major criticism about the airline screeners, and the x-ray technologies that are used in the airport, because the box cutters made it onto the planes without detection. After investigating the attacks it was found that the manner in which the terrorist bought the tickets, with cash and only one way, was reason for concern and should have raised questions to why the men were buying there tickets in that fashion; regrettably, there was no computer technology designed to trace such potentially dangerous ticket purchase.
The Essay on Linux Security Technologies
In a world so largely dependent on computer systems, inadequate security measures could lead to anything from having a single person’s financial information compromised to an electronic 9/11 against some of our country’s most secure federal computer networks. In the modern computer based society we live in, security is essential to protecting everything from personal desktops all the way up to the ...
This now meant that security not only had to deal with bombs, guns, and knives, but also deal with passengers and how their tickets are bought and why. (Richardson, p. 87) It was obvious from the attacks that this day would change the way airport security technology was viewed all around the world. Immediately following the attacks, the aviation world was rather frantic. The first order of business was the shutting down of all major airports in the United States to ensure no further terrorist attacks. Congress and airline executives were desperately searching for a way to create a secure plan for the nations airports security. After a few days of being shut down, the airports were reopened with a new sense for needed security.
Once the airports were reopened, it was obvious that the FAA had two major problems to deal with, the first being that security needed to be increased immediately and the second was that people were reasonably afraid to fly. This reaction brought up several immediate changes to the nations airports. The immediate changes brought a reasonably noticeable amount of security force at airports throughout the nation. Security was not only increased inside of the airports, but it extended on the perimeter of the airports. Many luxuries that were offered outside the airports were forbid for security reasons. Cars left at the curb of the terminal were immediately towed, curbside check-ins were no longer permitted, valet parking was no longer offered, and random searches of parking garages became common ground.
The Term Paper on Airport Security 2
Every upstanding individual who lays a foot onto the airport floor wants to remain safe. Consequently, that devastating day of September 11, 2001 instilled the fear of flying in many Americans. This gave our nation the need to reevaluate airport checkpoints in order to secure the safety of the people of our country from those who are not sympathetic to our American ways. Some find that the ...
Inside, the security got even tighter. Security and military officers were now visibly observing passengers during check-in, employees were more likely to check passengers for identification, and luggage was sniffed by bomb dogs and sent through explosive detection machines. Once passengers made it to the flight gate, they were examined with hand held metal detectors more often, and non-traveling citizen were not aloud to advance into the boarding area. Finally, when passengers made it to the boarding area they were again identified, every bag that was checked in was matched with the person boarding the plane, and any bag that was not matched would not board the plane. Though some of these immediate changes were permanent, it was obvious that these delay filled changes were not the answer to the nations airport security crisis. An immediate change that has, and will continue to be used is the implementation of the United States national guard at all airports. This became official on September 27, 2001 as President George W.
Bush ordered that the National Guard help secure all of the nations 420 commercial airports. The national guard at the airports are responsible for providing security, correcting employee agents who are doing poor inspections, and resolving any issues with passengers. (Richardson, p. 123) Perhaps, for nothing more than intimidation reasons, the National Guard on duty wears his or her standard National Guard uniforms, and is armed with loaded nine millimeter guns in their visible pistol belts. There is less likely to be an incident when people see the National Guard with loaded guns, said specialist Michael St. John of the United States National Guard.
It also gives others a sense of security in the airports. (Richardson, p. 140) On November 16, 2001 congress sent a bill to President Bush that is the most impressive aviation security bill in years. The bill ordered that all security screeners be employed by the federal government within the year, and that the systems be in tact for three straight years from the starting date. The screeners have come under scrutiny not only because the attacks of September 11, but also because several agencies have reported sneaking knives and other harmful objects onto planes after the deadly attacks. The screeners prior to this bill were hired by the airlines as minimum wage employees with very few added benefits. This bill will make the employees federal workers, which would increase their pay, but more importantly make them more apt to do their job.
The Essay on Airport Security Airports World Logan
Wednesday, Sep. 12, 2001 Airport Security: What's Next? After Tuesday's deadly plane crashes the FAA wants to beef up airport security. Are we ready? BY JESSICA REAVES The acts of terror took place hundreds of miles outside Boston, but the horrible chain of events appears to have begun at the local airport. Wednesday morning, reeling after Tuesday's hijackings, officials at Logan Airport in Boston ...
Along with the federalizing of airport screeners came required lockable cockpit doors, the inspection of all bags, and the increase use of air marshals on planes. The cockpit doors became an issue on the day of the attacks as well. The men who hijacked the planes broke into the cockpits, forcefully took over the controls, and manned the planes into the previously mentioned sites. The government hopes that all baggage will be checked with the current explosive detection machines and new detection machines of the future in order to ensure a safe bomb free environment in the nations airports. As of November 14, 2001 transportation department officials stated that less than ten percent of the current bags checked were scanned for explosives, so some sort of new and more efficient technology is necessary to begin scanning of all baggage. The bill that President Bush signed ensured that within sixty days from the signing of the bill there would be maximum screening luggage. Air marshals, who previously traveled on airplanes only when the plane was going to places of high terrorism, will be used in flights far more often, and may even be on every flight.
The system tends to search unsuspicious people instead of those who would be considered suspicious. Often times it is old people, or young children who are completely searched. Many people feel that the government needs to build on this system by profiling all passengers that are boarding the planes, and search the people with bad records or previous terrorist activities. What needs to be done in order to make sure that the nations airports are secure and safe for passengers? This is a common question these days with few definitive answers. There is a need for new, more accurate explosives detecting devices, and more of them at the nations airports. The federal screeners are a good start to the security issue, but there needs to be more done with x-ray machines and hand held metal detectors in order to make it absolutely impossible to bring anything harmful onto an airplane. With todays increasing technology these systems are obtainable, it will just take time in order for new machines to be created, and better people to be employed as screeners.
The Term Paper on Airport Security Aviation Airline Terrorists
... enhance aviation safety and security. Vulnerability assessments of the nation's International airports should be conducted. Based ... part of the solution-improving security also involves people. The introduction of new explosive ... suggest, missile attacks have downed passenger planes in other countries, and it is ... other countries, into the field. Their day-to-day operators can figure out which ...
September 11, 2001 will be noted as the day that airline security was increased and changed forever. The attacks brought on a sever increase in the United States airport security. The Government is spending billions of dollars and countless hours of research to make sure that the nations airports are as secure as possible. Words Count: 1,434.
Bibliography:
Alexander, Y. Aerial piracy and aviation security. London Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1990.
Richardson, A. Terrorism and Airport Security. New York: Random House, 2002. Yates, C. Airport Security: Standards and Technology. Coulsdon: Jane’s Information Group, 1997..
