Airports' Security: Strategies For Navigating Complex Checks

Airport security has evolved significantly over the years, particularly after the September 11 attacks, to prevent potential threats and dangerous situations. Before the attacks, airport security was relatively relaxed, with minimal checks and little scrutiny of passengers and their belongings. This allowed the 9/11 terrorists to exploit these lax security measures and hijack four commercial flights. In response, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was established to oversee security and introduce measures such as 100% checked baggage screening and reinforced cockpit doors. Airports also began deploying full-body scanners and enhancing screening procedures to detect non-metallic weapons and explosives. Additionally, the TSA introduced risk assessments and background checks to focus resources on high-risk passengers. While these measures have improved security, challenges remain, including the high failure rate of TSA officers in detecting prohibited items and the need to balance security with hygiene concerns.

Lax security measures before 9/11

Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, airport security was relatively relaxed compared to the stringent measures in place today. The security measures in place at the time were not adequate to prevent the hijacking of four commercial jetliners by 19 al-Qaida-affiliated terrorists.

One significant factor was the lack of focus on the threat posed by lightly armed hijackers intending to use planes as weapons. Security measures were primarily concerned with guns and explosives rather than dangerous individuals. This critical vulnerability allowed the 9/11 terrorists to carry knives and cutting implements through security checkpoints without being detected.

The security staff at airports were generally undertrained, with only about 12 hours of training prior to 9/11. As a result, they may not have been adequately equipped to identify potential threats effectively. Inadequate training was further exacerbated by sloppy practices, such as the hiring of untrained and unvetted screeners by companies like Argenbright, which provided security at Philadelphia International Airport from 1995 to 1998.

Additionally, the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System (CAPPS), implemented in the late 1990s, was not effective in identifying potential threats. While CAPPS flagged 6 of the 19 terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks, it also flagged 65,000 other passengers that day, leading to concerns about privacy and information security. The system in place also did not require passengers to show identification before boarding domestic flights, which allowed some of the 9/11 hijackers to board without proper identification.

The 9/11 attacks exposed significant flaws in airport security, leading to an immediate call to action to enhance security measures and address the vulnerabilities that had been exploited.

The creation of the TSA

On September 11, 2001, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia killed nearly 3,000 people. The attacks exposed weaknesses in existing airport security procedures, as security was managed by a myriad of private companies under contract with individual airlines or airport facilities. In the aftermath, there was a push for the government to take charge of airport security, with proponents arguing that only a single federal agency could effectively protect passenger aviation. This led to the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which was established by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) and signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001.

The TSA was tasked with the significant challenge of safeguarding the United States against similar attacks by strengthening the security of the nation's transportation systems. Within a year, the TSA took responsibility for security at all airports in the country and deployed a federal workforce to screen passengers, their baggage, and cargo. The agency also expanded the Federal Air Marshal Service and mandated reinforced cockpit doors to enhance aviation security.

Over the years, the TSA has continued to adapt and evolve its procedures and technology to address ever-changing security threats. In 2010, for instance, the TSA introduced enhanced screening procedures, including full-body scanners and more thorough pat-downs, in response to the Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab bombing attempt. The TSA has also deployed new technologies, such as self-service screening systems and mobile driver's license verification, to improve the security and efficiency of the screening process.

The TSA's commitment to innovation is reflected in its first Innovation Doctrine, which encourages innovative thinking and guides the agency's critical next steps. The TSA has also demonstrated its agility in responding to unexpected challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by implementing changes at checkpoints to protect travelers' health and safety.

As the TSA continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to its core values of integrity, respect, and commitment, working tirelessly to secure the nation's transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Advanced imaging technology

The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are working together to develop Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) to improve the passenger screening experience. The TSA screens millions of people in a single day, and with the number of travellers passing through airports increasing, the S&T is focused on improving the airport experience of the future so that passengers can move to their destinations with ease.

AIT uses automated target recognition software that eliminates passenger-specific images and instead auto-detects potential threats by indicating their location on a generic outline of a person. This technology has been awarded the R&D 100 Award in the Software/Services category.

A prototype shoe scanner has been developed for potential integration with the HD-AIT system, which could provide a fast and efficient alternative to current security practices at airports. The shoe scanner works by sending harmless millimeter waves through the sole of the shoe, and 3D data is then sent to a computer for review. This process takes approximately two seconds, with data processing taking an additional five seconds. In the future, the shoe scanner could be incorporated into the floor of passenger screening systems so that both passengers and their shoes can be screened simultaneously.

In addition to the shoe scanner, the Screening at Speed Program has been pursuing other on-person screening applications, such as modular Real-Time panels that can screen passengers as they move in front of them.

Profiling high-risk passengers

Airports are prime targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the large number of people passing through them daily. As such, airport security serves several purposes: to protect the airport and country from any threatening events, to reassure travellers that they are safe, and to protect the country and its people.

The efficacy of airport security is often questioned, especially after incidents like the 9/11 attacks, where 19 hijackers were able to stroll through metal detectors at four airport security checkpoints with ease, with deadly weapons in hand. Another example is the failed attack in 2010, where a terrorist managed to sneak dangerous explosives through security.

To improve security measures and reduce the workload on screeners, airports have started implementing passenger profiling systems. These systems use data to identify potential threats and risks, allowing security organisations to decide on appropriate actions and interventions. Profiling can be done at different levels:

• Minimal inspection: This includes a check of the passenger's passport, flying history, and national law enforcement databases.
• Low level: In addition to the checks mentioned above, passengers may be singled out for extra screening at the airport and further checks on law enforcement and intelligence databases.
• High level: Enhanced checks and the passenger is stopped and questioned by security staff or border agencies.

While passenger profiling can be an effective tool for improving airport security, it has also been criticised as an exercise in discrimination and civil liberty infringement. Critics argue that profiling is often racially focused and that people from certain ethnic groups are more likely to be targeted for searches. However, proponents of profiling argue that it is a crucial bulwark in airport security and that it helps to reduce the load on screeners while improving security and reducing wait times for passengers.

The trusted traveller program

The TTP is designed to benefit frequent travellers, international travellers, and commercial drivers crossing borders. Members of the program can move through the line at the airport or port of entry more quickly. The TSA PreCheck® program, for example, expedites the screening process for travellers through participating TSA security checkpoints. Similarly, Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers entering the US, and the NEXUS program offers the same benefit for travellers entering the US and Canada.

Critics of the TTP argue that such programs decrease security by providing an easier path for contraband to be carried through. However, proponents of the TTP argue that security screening can be more efficient by focusing on searching those who are potential threats. The TTP conducts thorough background checks and risk assessments on passengers prior to their arrival at checkpoints. Vetted travellers may pay a fee for membership, which allows them to go through a shorter security line and avoid removing shoes and belts.

The TTP is just one of several measures introduced to enhance security at airports. Other examples include full-body scanners, advanced imaging technology, and fiber optic perimeter intrusion detection systems. These systems help locate and detect any intrusion on the airport perimeter, allowing security personnel to assess threats and track movements. Additionally, some countries use specially trained individuals to engage passengers in conversation to detect threats, rather than solely relying on equipment.

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