Research

Airport Security: Examining the Security Measures Performance and Controversies

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Airport Security: Examining the Security Measures Performance and Controversies

Introduction

The events that took place in united on September 11, 2001 did not only stun the American people but the entire world. Following the attack, several questions and debate erupted in United States and the entire world on the safety of their international airports. Aviation security has become a major issue in United States since then and it was because of this that the American federal government formed a federal agency; the Transportation Security Administration under the homeland security to deal with matters that relate to transportation security (Graham, 2013). Since its formation, the Transportation Security Administration has made significant efforts, which has seen it set several regulations to control and enhance airport security in United States. Although the regulations and security measures are meant to enhance security in American airports, the measures and regulations have become major point of discussion due to the controversies that they cause (Wilkinson & Jenkins, 2013). Although the security of airports is very important given the fact that all communities are linked to the global transportation that enable global movement of goods and people, there is needed to balance the rights of the people while implementing these security measures and regulations in airports.

The American security players have the responsibility to promote efficient and reliable movement of people, goods and services in aviation industry at the same time preventing terrorists from using the conveyances to advance their heinous acts of causing destructions. Although these are responsibilities that require employment of high security measures, the measures and regulations that are implemented must not infringe on the rights of the people. The government should not take this as a leeway to cause breach of rights of the people (Lord, 2010). It is true that the recent technological security measures and regulations have played a big role in increasing airport security. However, this cannot be used to deny persons there rights that are provided to them by the supreme law, the constitution. This paper therefore will focus on security measures that have been implemented since the September 11, 2001 and the controversies that have emanated from the implementation of the security measures and regulations that are implemented by the Transportation Security Administration.

Study hypothesis

The efforts that have been put in place by the federal government through the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security have borne fruits in enhancing aviation security but the measures that have been put in place need to be enhanced as they have several lapses. Similarly, the measures have to be wary of privacy laws and rights of the people as it is very clear that they violate privacy rights and cause discrimination, group listing and racial profiling.

Research questions

This research paper will be guided rather will seek answers to the following research questions:

RQ 1: Are the current security measures that have been implemented at United States airports effective?

RQ 1: What are the controversies that originate from the security measures that have been implemented at the airports?

RQ 1: Does Transportation Security Administration regulations on aviation security helping to enhance aviation security?

Literature Review

Scholars today are using literature review as one of the research approach to understand a particular phenomenon. This is because of the fact that literature review present scholars with a wide area of study through which researchers can gather knowledge that has been published already and use the knowledge to synthesize new information on the subject matter. There has been an increase in publications on the topic of airport security since the September 11, 2001.

One of the scholars who have researched intensively on the issue affecting airport security is Graham (2013). According to the author, security is one of the major problems that are affecting concerns to aviation industry apart from high oil prices, and labor issues. The Graham (2013) observes that most of the security measures that have been put in place to control insecurity in the industry are not effective as terrorists have been able to evade these traditional screening techniques and cause havoc in the industry. With all these concerns, the debate has raged on the need to compromise people’s privacy for the sake of the aviation security. The introduction of the whole body scanning technique and other security scanning techniques rather technologies such as ultra-precise T-ray scanners are some of the technologies that have been suggested to supplement current security measures (Graham, 2013). Elaborate security measures that include routine screening of airline staff are also some of the measures that are being proposed according to the author.

Graham (2013) provides legitimate argument as far as enhancing airport security is concern. The introduction of the whole body scanner and other measures should be encouraged. However, it is unacceptable to compromise the privacy of the people for the sake of the airport security. Whole body scanners are likely to compromise the privacy of the people and this may cause legal battles in courts. That said than done, the idea rather the regulation that has been proposed by the Transportation Security Administration that will ensure elaborate screening of airline staff is something that must be encouraged and supported since not all airline staff are honest (Lord, 2010). Dishonesty among the airline staffs may be the point of weakness in the security measures that are put in place to enhance aviation security. Graham (2013) in this paper conclude the study by identifying some of the areas that need to be researched on. The author recommends that a study should be conducted to understand the value of regulations to the current security measures in enhancing airport security.

In a separate study that was done by Wilkinson and Jenkins, (2013), the authors are of the views that post September 11, 2001 security measures in the aviation industry have drastically transformed the way security is achieved and maintained in airports. Airport security has not only been enhanced in United States alone but in other countries, which are vulnerable to terrorist attack globally. The agenda to enhance security measures in airports has been fronted by United States, which most a times fell to be the most vulnerable nation to terrorism globally. Wilkinson and Jenkins, (2013) are of the views that the public concerns on airport security resulted to the federalization of the airport security with the views of eliminating any forms of security lapses, inconsistencies, and other drawbacks that may be caused by private security personnel. This was done to increase security standards of all security process that take place at the airports. Wilkinson and Jenkins, (2013) are of the views that federalization of airport security operations resulted to implementation of security measures that include Explosion Detection Systems, Explosion Trace Detection Systems, deployment of sniffer dogs in airports and other manual security checking techniques at the airports to beef up security through screening.

Similarly, Wilkinson and Jenkins, (2013) noted in the article that Transportation Security Administration has recently deployed high technology computer programs such as the CAPPS (computer assisted passenger pre-screening systems) to pre-screen all passengers before boarding the plane. Although all these security measures have been deployed to improve security in airports, the author is of the views that they have resulted to several controversies that include racial profiling, group listing and discrimination at the airports (Wilkinson & Jenkins, 2013). There is enough evidence from the media reports that support the assumptions by the authors that current security measures are causing discrimination, racial profiling and group listing. Today, it is no longer news to read, watch or listen to news that people of Arabic origin have been subjected to inhumane screening at the airports mostly in United States. In this regard, it is true to conclude that although there is need to use up-to-date technology to enhance security at the airports, this should not be used to advance the agenda of security personnel who have their own personal interests of humiliating people from a particular religion or race (Wilkinson & Jenkins, 2013). There is need to conduct a study that will investigate the controversies that arise from the security measures that have been put in place to improve security at the airports and how can these controversies can be overcome.

Samanthat Somer in her study in 2014 focused on assessing the effectiveness of TSA regulations in general aviation security improvement efforts. According to the author, general aviation is one of the most focused on sector in transportation security because of the several players in the industry that need to be reconciled to reach amicable security protocol. Somers (2014) is of the views that general aviation security present huge concern to security players in the transportation sector because it is difficult to reconcile the opinion of all the industry stakeholders that are involved to create a safe flying haven. The author is of the views that regulatory agency, pilots, passengers, security personnel and other players add to the current security issues and controversies that are affecting the industry and there is need for consensus to come up with effective regulation to regulate aviation security (Somers, 2014). Most of the people have resolved to the use of private flights because of the security issues and controversies that have proven to be unending in the general aviation sector. Although all the security measures that have been put in place are meant to enhance safety and passenger satisfaction, they are causing significant inconvenience, which are hurting the industry. There is enough evidence to support this as the number of passengers using private jets has increased drastically. In conclusion, on, the author is of the views that general aviation industry players must strike consensus on security issues in the sector to enhance its effectiveness and safety (Somers, 2014). In this regard, it is recommended that a study should be done to investigate why TSA regulations have been found to be very unpopular in the aviation industry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is enough evidence to support the idea that security measures that have been put in place to enhance security in airports are effective but cause several controversies. Cases of privacy breaches, discrimination, group listing and racial profiling are some of the controversies that these measures have caused. Although these measures are effective, it is expected that the TSA should recruit honest people to worker as airport screeners as this will reduce controversies that are associated with the measures that have been put in place that make the techniques unpopular. TSA also need to improve rather change their policies formulation process and include all stakeholders in formulating its regulations so that they become popular to all stakeholders.

References

Graham, A. (2013). Managing Airports 4th edition: An international perspective. Routledge.

Lord, S. M. (2010). Aviation Security: A National Strategy and Other Actions Would Strengthen TSA¿ s Efforts to Secure Commercial Airport Perimeters and Access Controls. DIANE Publishing.

Somers, S. (2014). Effectiveness of TSA Regulations in General Aviation.

Wilkinson, P., & Jenkins, B. (2013). Aviation terrorism and security. Routledge.