Tag: September 11

Coming full circle after 9/11

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Over my last blog posts, I’ve discussed many of the security measures in place to keep air passengers safe, and the efforts of many domestic airports to keep up with the ever-advancing security technology.  What many people wonder is, are these measures sufficient defense against the evolving threats of home-grown and foreign terrorists?

This website helps frequent travelers to gain information on how to make their hectic travel schedule more manageable.
This website helps frequent travelers to gain information on how to make their hectic travel schedule more manageable.

In my last post, I talked with Kelly, a college student, about how the security measures in place sometimes discourage her from flying.  Although there are some people in the US, and around the world who have no choice but to use air travel to do business.  Many of these men and women travel hundreds of miles in a day and fly multiple times per week.  Although security measures may deter a college student from flying, business people such as these constantly deal with the fear and inconveniences of air travel.

Listen to hear the opinions of one such businessman

podcast interview

Not only do airports endeavor to protect us through the use of new technology and advanced machine, but people also make up part of aviation security teams on airplanes and in airports.  Federal Air Marshals is one such group.  The TSA website says about federal air marshals, “they blend in with passengers and rely on their training, including investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition.”  This description gets one to thinking what exactly “criminal terrorist behavior recognition” means? 

I discussed in my first blog post how the September 11th terrorist attacks were the motivating factor behind putting new security measures in place and in my last post, I would like to discuss how after the September 11th attacks, profiling became a widespread issue with many air passengers and in many airports around the world.

Security or Liberty?

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After the introduction of many new airport security measures since September 11 like Secure Flight and full-body scanners, the ethics of these measures have been called into  question by the EU and other officials.  Issues have arisen regarding the use of the new technologies.  Janice Horowitz writing for The Huffington Post even suggests that body scanning machines are unsafe. 

At an informal meeting in Toledo, Spain this January, Napolitano and the EU agreed that “biometrics, passenger screening and the ‘identification of illicit materials’ through ‘enhanced technologies’” will become commonplace security measures in airports around the world. 

With the introduction of new screening technology, the EU hopes to “totally remove the ban on liquids” at airports. 

The goal of these technologies is to change the experience of passengers so they no longer feel like “suspects” when going through airport security.
When it comes to civil liberties and privacy, the USA and EU are as one: security comes first.

Current security measures include weight and size requirements for baggage, liquid restrictons, and bans on explosives or weapons in luggage.
Current security measures include weight and size requirements for baggage, liquid restrictons, and bans on explosives or weapons in luggage.

Over the next couple of blogs, I’d like to discuss the security measures and the reactions to these measures from frequent fliers, and students who fly to and from Furman.
I’d like my interviewees’ opinions on whether or not they see current security measures as effective means of protecting the passengers against terrorism in the air.  Should we see these new technologies as invasive towards our civil liberties, or is it worth sacrificing liberty for the sake of security?

A turn for the worse or the better?

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      “These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”  These were the words of President Bush at approximately 8:30 pm on the night of September 11, 2001. This day marked the turning point in our nation’s attention to airport security.  The TSA, with whom we associate airport security measures, was created from the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) passed on November 19, 2001.  This administration is now part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created in November 2002, which deals with threats to the security of our nation.

September 11, 2001 - Source: AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong
September 11, 2001 - Source: AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong

According to the timeline of September 11th, chronicled on CNN.com, the terrorists aboard the four hijacked planes were “armed only with knives.”  With the creation of the TSA, regulations regarding baggage and other security measures have been enacted to better protect airline passengers. These rules have evolved into extremely advanced protocols for monitoring air safety.  One of the first acts of the TSA was to ensure that all checked luggage was screened for explosive materials.  These screening processes have come to include fairly invasive strategies that are hoped to limit the threat of terrorism in the air.
               

                Everyone who has flown in the past year has experienced these inconvenient measures.  We should be asking ourselves… Should I really have to take off my shoes, belt and jacket while going through the metal detector? Does having only 3 oz. of liquids or less really protect me while on a flight? Do heavier screenings for passengers really keep the terrorists off of flights? Are we safer now in-flight than before September 11th?  The government believes the answer to all of these questions is YES!  By examining the safety measures taken to protect air passengers, especially those invoved in international flight, we can see how strong relationships with other countries are paramount to making air travel safe.