Airport Security After 911 Essay

On September 11, 2001, the world of aviation and airport security became drastically different. Since the attacks the government, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has amped up airport security by creating the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). In essence, the TSA is responsible “for security at the nation’s airports and deployed a federal workforce to screen all commercial airline passengers and baggage” (Transportation Security Overview, 2015).

The September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks forever changed the way our air travel industry operates. It affected the government, the airlines, airports, employees, and passengers alike. There was not as much of a threat of terrorism before 9/11, so airport security was not nearly as thorough, and at times intrusive as it is today. Through the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, the evolving threat of terrorism has not been successful in carrying out another 9/11 style attack.

An airport is known to be hectic and strict when it comes to airport security. Airports were never so strict before, until the attack on September 11, 2001. The attack on that day changed many things in the United States. The biggest thing the terrorist attack changed was the security in airports. Many questions are centered on how the terrorists were able to get knives onto a plane and how were they able to take control of a plane so easily. Prior to 2001, security barely existed in airports. After the devastating attack of September 11, 2001, the latest technology is implemented to improve airport security.

America on September 11, 2001 required that we reform our nation’s aviation security system in fundamental ways. Three years after the Sept. 11 tragedies, how far has airport and airlines come? It depends on the source. While it is important for airports to heighten security after the attacks of 9/11, the policies of profiling passengers are inadequate and a necessitate revision.

In this article, the aviation and business enterprise writer for the Houston Chronicle, Andrea Rumbaugh begins by stating that after fifteen years and billions of dollars, “threats to air travel continue to evolve and airport security has become as laborious as it is routine.” While security experts have a myriad of opinions on whether the current process is effective or not, all believe that there is definitely room for improvement. Aviation professionals strongly believe that even though TSA screening and other programs currently in use have acted as a deterrent, deficiencies and other issues open the door for a catastrophic attack.

Before, during, and after 9-11, were all very different times in regards to aviation. Prior to this event, many issues needed to be discussed, but matters were mostly related to overall safety not terrorism. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) took action immediately. The International Air Transport Association and the Federal Aviation Administration made security their “top priority” (Taylor 8). They immediately made important changes to improve everyone’s safety. Even though commercial and private air travel are different ways of air

According to Alycia B. Taylor and Sara Steedman, there were many areas needed to be addressed in airport security prior to September 11, 2001. One problem is those who were hired by airlines to act as security screeners. Some of these people could carry threats to the aircraft or the passengers. “In May 2000, Department of Transportation Inspector General agents use fictitious law enforcement badges and credentials to gain access to secure areas, bypass security checkpoints at two airports, and walk unescorted to aircraft departure

There are positive outcomes in the increase of airport security since 9/11. After the catastrophic disaster that happened on the 9th September 2001 people have been concerned about their safety whilst flying overseas and from the people they come across while there travelling, this could be people at the airport, on the plane and at there destination. Strong airport security measures include a document or a specific ID that show your details and your name has to be the same as on the ticket, you must take off your shoes and outerwear clothing because it has to be checked before entering through the body scan machine screening, all baggage must be checked and laptops and Ipads must be taken out of the carryon bags. Surveys reveal that passengers

The terrorist attacks that occurred in the morning of September 11, 2001 have had a huge impact on aviation in the following years. Four airlines were hijacked by 19 Al-Qaeda members on the east coast and attempted to fly into different targets on the east coast. As most know, three of the hijacked aircraft succeeded in flying into their targets and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,996 people. The attacks resulted in many changes to airline and airport security.

Overall, the FBI budget geared towards antiterrorism investigation and prosecution has tripled. (Brill, 2016). With that money, the United States undergone numerous security changes particularly pertaining to airport safety as well as shipping port safety. In respect to airport security, the magazine states before the event of September 11th there were only 16,000 poorly trained screeners and now there are now 46,000 federally trained screeners (Brill, 2016). In addition, the number of air Marshalls drastically increased as well. The exact number is classified, but the magazine states there were approximately 5,000 as of 2005 (Brill, 2016). Lastly, reportedly billions of dollars’ worth of technology, including radiation detectors are being used at the American shipping ports. Shipping containers deemed to be a threat are isolated for additional screening. Containers are also screen in foreign ports by U.S. Customs (Brill, 2016).

On September 11, 2001, roughly 3000 innocent people were killed in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia from a series of ruthless coordinated terrorist attacks which were carried out in the air. These attacks forever changed airport security measures throughout the United States and the World. The attacks resulted in the immediate creation of the Transportation Security Administration, which was stood up to increase airport security measure to prevent repeating such horrible acts on United States soil. Sixteen years later, the United States is a safer country and airport security has improved. With all the new technology rapidly being introduced, security officials are always trying to

The Government, which has turned to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to secure airports, has passed and redone countless bills and acts trying to provide the safest, most efficient form of airport security. Prior to the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 security at the nations airports were not considered excellent, but for the most part did the job that was expected of them, making sure that people who boarded the planes did not have any weapons or that no bombs made it onto the airplane. The evolution of airport security has taken place over very few years, and will continue until the existence of airports. In 1974, the United States Government passed the first act the ensure airport security with The Transportation and Anti-Hijacking acts. These two acts called for safer security by making it difficult for any weapons or sharp objects to be brought into the airport, or onto the airplane. These two acts accomplished security for weapons, but it was not until 1988 did airports have to start worrying about bombs being brought on planes through luggage and

This Day brought America to its knees, however at the same time, illustrated the weakness of America’s Security methods in identifying threats and terrorist activities. Prior to 9/11 the airlines and airports were responsible for managing the screening checkpoints .The aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 was passed shortly after September 11, to address the immediate needs of aviation security. This act caused the birth of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the U.S department of transportation, who were then now responsible for handling all screening at all U.S airports. With all the new directives some rules were implemented immediately, where as others took a while before they were in effect. Some of The new rules that were implemented immediately were that passengers were banned from carrying knives, box cutters, and

Airport development, and operations has come a long way since the airways Modernization act was approved and passed by president Eisenhower in 1957. Back then the growing concerns of aviation traffic was keeping the individuals involved in the industry up at night. It was apparent that transportation by air was becoming more popular, and the current airspace management system wasn’t working after a high profile crash in 1956.” In 1956, a Trans World Airlines Super Constellation and a United Airlines Douglas DC-7 collided in midair over the Grand Canyon, killing 128 people”(p.65) After the accident people started to become more concern about their safety when traveling on air craft, and what made it if worse was the introduction of jet aircraft

In addition, when I first discovered the article “TSA Sends Site Survey Teams to 33 Additional Airports,” I thought that 33 airports were so few compared to the widely-used screening technology today. On August 12, 2002, survey teams were sent out to the 33 airports, and even more technology was to be added by the end of that year. The security added in August consisted of three steps: baggage screening and checkpoints, employing and training teams to operate the new screening technology, and being approved by the TSA