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NOTICE:
TIEMS Transportation Safety and Security Workshop January 28-29th 2003
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Welcome to
the
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management
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| January 2003
Volume 3 - Number 4 |
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Links:
Current events
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Born Out of the FAA ashes: The Transportation
Security Administration
By Raymond Cheung
Abstract
The failings of the Federal Aviation Administration’s responsibility to security
were patently obvious after terrorists were able to hijack and crash four
airliners on September 11th, 2001 using non-prohibited box-cutters.
There were already FAA critics abound prior to 9/11, yet these criticisms
were mostly aimed at under-trained screeners, air delays, and inadequate
protection from explosives. Surprisingly, none of these factors played
a part in the attacks and their repair would not have prevented them either.
What the FAA was unable to do, an entirely new administration was created
to fix – the Transportation Security Administration.At first headed by John Magaw, who has since retired amid reports of “his inability to get along with Congress” and not making “flying safer – just more annoying”, it has since been taken over by Admiral James Loy, Magaw’s second-in-command8. Admiral Loy’s vision of TSA is to provide “world class security coupled equally to world class customer service” along with “common sense.” One of Admiral Loy’s most well known changes is the elimination of three questions that airline agents must ask customers concerning the control of their baggage. Long ridiculed as superfluous and outdated, the new policy is part of Loy’s attempt to reduce the “hassle factor.” 12 In the aftermath of 9/11, the prohibited items list was relatively short prohibiting mostly firearms, explosives, and knives longer than 4 inches. 3 Now, prohibited items include dozens of items ranging from all knives to ski poles to throwing stars to toy transformer robots that transform into a gun. Items that were prohibited immediately after 9/11 are now being allowed such as tweezers, safety razors, and nail clippers. Today, passenger security screeners are federal employees, who must undergo strict background checks and extensive training. TSA met the November 19th deadline to federalize all baggage screeners by hiring and training 44,000 screeners in less than a year. Screeners are given 44 hours of classroom training along with 60 hours of on-the-job training. Few forget the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The cause was from a bomb in an unaccompanied checked bag. Before 9/11, sabotage killed three times as many people as hijackings did9. Of course, this statistic is drastically different today, but the threat due to explosives still exists. A method called positive passenger-bag match is used to ensure that checked baggage always remains with the passenger. Today, PPBM is only mandated during initial flights, but not continuing ones12. Unfortunately, in the wake of 9/11, PPBM probably would not deter the suicidal terrorist attacks that have become too common. A more effective way to prevent a bombing from checked baggage is to prevent explosives from being carried onboard at all utilizing explosive detection machines. The original deadline for all airports to utilize machines is December 31st, 2002, but many airports may not meet that deadline due to logistical concerns of placement of the bulky machines. For now, hand-held explosive detection monitors, bomb-sniffing dogs and the Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening System will be used to fulfill the requirement that all checked baggage be screened for explosives until the machines can be placed. 9 A previously existing program run by the Department of Transportation has now expanded exponentially under TSA. The Federal Air Marshal program places trained federal agents on board planes deemed “high risk” and arms them with handguns in case of an attempted hijacking. Before 9/11, about 50 marshals flew only on international flight, whereas it is thought that about 6,000 new marshals have been hired as of August 2002. 6 A last resort measure may now be available for pilots after the passing of the Homeland Security Act. Along with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the act also will provide pilots who undergo training the privilege to carry a handgun in the cockpit. According to the Allied Pilots Association, it is expected that 30,000 of the 100,000 U.S. airline pilots will volunteer for the five-day, 48-hour training course requirement to carry guns in the cockpit.5 At the conclusion of the training, pilots will act out a scenario where a hijacker attempts to storm the cockpit. The future of the TSA is remains uncertain. The only certain thing is that it the organization will evolve and take on additional responsibilities and expand into different areas. Since TSA is not specifically for air transportation, Admiral Loy is expected to lead the agency into “seaport, railroad, mass transit, and highway security.” 1 Just as FEMA’s focus on customer service, improved satisfaction ratings, TSA’s reputation will also improve with a customer service focus. Both can be accomplished without sacrificing either. Treatment with respect and attention to traveler’s needs and wishes do not need to be thrown out the door in the name of security. To Full Paper |