How Aviation Security and TSA has Changed due to 9/11

How Aviation Security and TSA has Changed due to 9/11

The 9/11 refers to the attack that took place on September 11. The incidence was characterized by series of suicide attacks and airline hijacking that were done in 2001 by nineteen militants who were associated with the extremist Islamic group, al-Qaeda.  The plot was against their targets in the United States. It was marked as one of the deadliest attacks of its kind in the history of the U.S. The attacks that were against Washington, D.C and New York City, lead to numerous deaths and havoc and consequently triggered the efforts of the U.S. to come up with measures for combating terrorism. It was reported that over 2700 people got killed in New York, 40 in Pennsylvania, and 184 at the Pentagon. Besides, all the 19 terrorists also perished. Fire departments and the police in New York had tough moments as they were hard-hit. Hundreds of the officials rushed to the scene to rescue, but unfortunately, over 400 firefighters and the police officers got killed. Khalid Sheikh Mohamed was the major planners of the September 11 attack. He had spent a significant part of his youth in Kuwait. He joined the Muslim Brotherhood at the age of 16 and became a very active member. The later attended his college in the United States, earning a degree in 1986 at North Carolina University. It was reported that Sheikh Mohamed had plans of blowing up a number of American planes during the mid-1990s in Asia, but the plan never hatched. Despite everything, his dream never faded. He comes up with tactics of hijacking planes for the purpose of attacking the United States. Money, personnel, and the logistical support for executing the operations were then provided by al-Qaeda. Bin Laden, whom he had joined hands with, then wove the attack on Washington and New York, an event that led to the historically marked incident as the 9/11 attack. The focus of this paper is to examine the changes that aviation security and the TSA have made since the 9/11 attack and what has been implemented as a result.

Aviation and Transportation Security Act

Immediately after the 9/11 terrorist incidence, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed by Congress. This resulted in the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and directed that the federal employees conduct the airport security screening. This was a mechanic for boosting security in the aviation industry to help evade any other risks that would lead to a terror attack. The TSA has since implemented some rigorous procedures for screening that are tailored to the passengers together with their baggage. The screening procedures that were adopted by the TSA required that the passengers pass via metal doctors, have their bags x-rayed as well as having the checked bags examined by the explosive detection systems. There are also some minor changes to the procedure, such as requiring the passengers to remove their shoes and the recent prohibition of carrying some specific types of items into the airplane. The changes though minor, have also resulted in positive effects on aviation security.

However, one of the major changes that have been implemented by aviation security is the numerous layers of security. This incorporates the inclusion of layers that do not just major on the screening of the passengers but also things such as beefing tightening security within and outside the airports well as enhancing the cooperation between the security officials and the airline personnel. Nn argued that the new changes had played a pivotal role in boosting the security standards in the United States in general.

Furthermore, the TSA pre-screens the passengers besides inspecting the passenger as well as their baggage at the airport. The TSA currently requires the airlines to make submissions of the list of the passengers so to compares such names to a watch list. This approach met some objections as civil liberties groups were against sharing of the passengers’ confidential data since the watch list was not under proper maintenance either. To address the concern, the TSA came up with a Secure Flight Program, a pre-screening program that tried to take off the passengers’ security and rights.

Moreover, the TSA implemented another new program referred to as Registered Travelers. This program aims to permit regular flyers to volunteer and give offer their biometric identifiers, like fingerprints and background information, to help in facilitating their security screening process. Having prior background information ensures that the passengers’ information is already configured in the systems hence saving time in authenticating their identities. This approach has not only helped in boosting security but also the efficiency of operations in the aviation industry.

Aircraft Protection

Also, TSA came up with other measures that are aimed at baring the hijacking of the planes. The measures consist of armed pilots on the same flight, fortified cockpit doors, and extension of the Federal Air Marshals programs. Another significant change that has taken place in aviation security is the enhancements in the behaviors of the passengers. Nn argued that since the 9/11 attack, the passengers had taken an active role of baring the terrorists form performing plots aboard the airplanes. This has further shown a significant improvement in security as the terrorists have since found it hard to execute the plans amidst vigilant passengers. Furthermore, the pilots have to remain locked behind secure doors for the entire flight duration with the exception of restroom break, though the flight attendants have undergone sufficient training to the cockpit during such intervals.

Upgrading technology screening for weapons and bombs

Before the 9/11incidence, most luggage, specifically on the domestic flights, used to go straight on the planes without being subjected to intense screening or being scrutinized for the presence of explosives. The aviation industry later enhances security by bringing advanced detection machines that were mini-van size. This has remained one of the hugest security enhancements that the industry made to date. This ensured that all luggage, as well as passengers, were subjected to intense screening, thus ensuring that not an explosion or any harmful gadgets do not get to the plane. TSA also introduced detection instruments that have the capability of detecting liquid explosives and other harmful materials. This has ensured that more luggage and people can undergo thorough screening and scrutiny within a short period of time hence speeding service delivery at the airport.

Hard Security

Among the hard changes that that were made in the aviation industry after the 9/11 attack were visible security and operations on screeners as well as the enhanced cooperation between security officials and the airlines.  The government, therefore, created the transportation Security Administration after the 9/11 attack. The TSA was responsible for airport security in February of the year 2002. The TSA also introduced new laws that the airline must have the baggage tied to an individual on the aircraft before the luggage is screened for any explosive. This measure was undertaken because of unaccompanied baggage that got exploded and caused the crash of Lockerbie in the year 1988. Baggage screening was strictly done through four different methods: Explosive Detection System (EDS), bomb-sniffing, Explosive trace Detection (ETD), and finally, manual bag searches. The data obtained from screening is then sent to the commercial data service, which, in turn, reports back to the TSA, letting to be aware of the information that the passengers provided through the airline has a perfect match with the information that is available in the company’s records. The comparison was to help in eliminating any fraud by the passengers. Besides this, the TSA also takes passengers via a terrorist Screening Database (TSCD). The outcome of this process is then transmitted to the security personnel who are at the airport.

Security at the Entrance

TSA has come up with rigorous measures to enhance both and unseen security at the airport to successfully enable them to accomplish the transportation mission. The TSA has implemented security measures long before one gets to the airport. It has since been working closely with the intelligence team as well as the law enforcement team to exchange and share vital information. This ensures that passengers are screened and protected before they enter the airport all the way to their destinations.

Furthermore, TSA came up with other security enhancements to the checkpoints. This comprises pat-down screening as well as both carrying-on and checked bag screening. This conformed with the designed list of unapproved and approved travel objects. Furthermore, the TSA came up with a passenger pre-screening program that is risk-based. The program makes it very easy to identify the passengers who are either low or high-risk travelers based on some predefined algorithm. The screening of the passengers at the airport was, therefore, a layered approach that TSA made us get their passengers safely to reach their destinations. Nn claimed that the entrance screening procedure of the TSA was implemented with the intention of hindering the items that had been marked as prohibited as well as preventing threats from getting to the airport. The TSA has, therefore, enhanced procedures and processes to help meet the changing threat and to attain the maximum level of security in the aviation industry.