Airport Security: First Developed In New Orleans

“After 9/11, the airport security became very strict and has over time, tried to become more efficient and practical for travelers.” said Jotterand.

According to Jason Villemez of the PBS News Hour, there were immediate changes to airport security following 9/11. Within 2 months of the attacks, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed. This law requires that every single bag is screened at airports andrequires that certain procedures are followed at every airport (Swickard). Before 9/11, scissors, baseball bats, darts, and 4-inch-long blades were allowed, but these are now illegal under the ATSA (O’Connor). The Aviation and Transportation Security Act also created the Transportation Security Administration known as the TSA (Tognotti). Each airport had to supply their own security before 9/11, but with the creation of the TSA, the government supplied security for airports (Villemez). Gabi Logan of USA Today found that the increase in security including baggage checks caused a six percent decrease in the number of passengers. Passengers chose not to travel at all or found a different way to get to their destination. While security in airports was significantly increased, 9/11 also affected millions of Americans involved in the war on terror”.

September 11, 2001 was an unforgettable day when many people lost there lives and sadly, airport security failed at three different airports. Airport security is a big deal all across the country and we depend on the use of the security for the safety of our own lives along with the others around us. There were many attacks throughout history that helped the airport to see what there weaknesses were, which helps strengthen their current security systems. 9/11 was a big impact on the world and caused grief to many families, but all that grief could have been avoided if they were caught in the airport! Airport security went from relaxed to strict very quickly. There were many changes in the security before 9/11, during 9/11, and after

Airport security before the attacks was minimal, which is why the attack was able to orchestrated successfully. Airlines hired their own agents to screen passengers. These employees were described as having “poor training due to unattractive wages and benefits which resulted in the hiring of an unskilled, inexperienced labor force” (Taylor). Carry-ons were not extensively searched as they are today, and many threats including knives, guns and explosives made it past security onto passenger-carrying aircraft. Instead of the modern day Advanced Imaging Technology screening machines that can detect a variety of possible threats, airports used to use simpler metal detectors (TSA.gov).

As a response to the 9/11 attacks, one would expect that the TSA would improve airport security. In reality, it's just security theater. Originally, the use of metal detectors and luggage x-rays in airport security checkpoints was enough. However, on December 25, 2009, an inbound international

In November of 2001, the United States was still reeling from the attacks on September 11 of that same year. President George W. Bush created a new organization to prevent future attacks on American flyers. The organization was called the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA. The TSA was tasked with implementing security measures to protect travelers. At first, the measures were welcomed by the public. They were seen as a necessary measure to protect against future 9/11 style attacks. But now, 15 years later, the measures the TSA have put in place have been questioned repeatedly by members of the public, the press and congress. Incidents such as the Underwear Bomber, where a Nigerian

Airport security in the post 9/11 era is designed to create the illusion of safety, without actually protecting us from terrorism. It is important to recognize, that the TSA is incredibly ineffective, at preventing prohibited items from getting past its gates. In a recent test at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, undercover federal agents successful snuck in 95 percent of explosive materials, fake weapons and drugs. While this failure rate is certainly alarmingly high it is by no way unique. In a similar, but slightly broader Homeland Security investigation, the TSA failed 67 out of 70 tests conducted by the department’s Red Team across a variety of cities. Furthermore, the layout of security at airports is incredible ineffective. According to renowned security expert, Rafi Sela, “security should happen in rings, so different teams can check each other’s work.” However, in American Airports the only place that security happens is at one checkpoint.

After the terrorist attacks on September 11, airport security went through major changes and procedures. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which oversees airport security

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011 prompted the world to reevaluate and drastically modify airport and airline security. “Four targets had been chosen, all iconic American buildings that would send a clear message of the depth of their hatred for the United States. All four planes crashed, killing all on board—terrorists, crew members, and passengers, along with hundreds who were killed inside the structures, on the ground, and the men and women who ran into collapsing buildings in an effort to try and save others” (Smutz 1). As Jason Villemez said “the decade after the 9/11 attacks reshaped many facets of life in America” (Villemez 1). Before the attacks, people did not think that large

Airport security pre 9/11 was very unorganized which is what led to such a cotastrophy. The job of aviation security was largly dealt with by private security firms which led to incunsistency, and the FAA did an inadequarte job at keeping these inconsistencies in check. According to a 1987 FAA test 20% of dangerous items were missed by the airport screeners, and as time went on that percentage worsened “Test data for the 1991 to 1999 period show that the declining trend in detection rates continues.” (GAO, 2001a, p. 6). Due to this lack of organization 5 planes were able to be hijacked on the same day. This act of terrorism made apperant that that the job of aviation protection had to be taken out of the handss of the FAA and be made more of a federal issue. From

Some of the terrorists were living in America for over 1 year and attending flying lessons. The other extremists slipped through our country months before September 11th. The attacks were not much of a surprise as they were a shock. Since the US has gotten plenty of warnings from the Islamist extremists. They had wanted to kill Americans indiscriminately and in large groups. Because of this catastrophe after 2 months, Congress federalized air terminal security by passing the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which made the Transportation Security Administration. The new TSA is tasked with establishing new security methodology that included stricter rules on traveler and baggage screening. Just ticketed travelers could experience security, and a perpetually changing show of apparatus and methodology were acquainted with output for weapons and damaging things. As new dangers were found after 9/11, new systems were presented, including uprooting shoes and banning

Before the 9/11 attacks, which changed how we travel, airport security was minimal, with just X-rays and metal detectors. No one got a body search, and almost no one’s carry on bag got checked. No aircraft was required to shut the cockpit door, and air marshals weren 't everywhere, only 33 Federal Air Marshals were active on 9/11. Friends and Family were authorized to go all the way to the gate, and people were allowed Swiss Army Knifes on flights. Everyone could arrive just minutes before a flight and no-one would be concerned.

Through the history of aviation the importance of airport security has steadily increased. Since the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, many changes have taken place at airports to prevent such an attack from occurring again. The purpose of this paper is to: outline airport security procedures, discuss the different technologies involved with airport security, as well as examine the components of airport security. In addition I will also discuss the Transportation Security Administration’s role in our nation’s airport security.

Many years ago airport security was not even an issue. People felt secure and safe and rarely worried about being searched. As time went on, the prevealance of terrorism became an increasing issue. There began more acts of terrorism by threatening and holding hostages on board commercial planes. As these acts continued, the government as well as citizens became vulnerable and an airport safety procedure was implemented as a way to ensure the safety of the United States. The implemented procedures over the years included a check and scan of all carry on and checked baggage, body scans, hire government airport employees, and a strict list of carry-on items. This made travelers feel safer as it decreased the ability of terrorist to commit

increased its efforts in protecting its airports. At that time, “the security scanners already in place in most airports included baggage x-rays, metal detectors, and chemical residue detectors, which help security staff search out illegal items that a passenger might have” (DiLascio). These security scanners unfortunately failed in their job. Since then, the Transportation Security Administration has been keeping American airports safe using the latest technology. Airports have now been fitted with high-tech body scanners rather than the archaic metal detectors that only detect metal objects. During the past few years, individuals have attacked the