No,ThereIsntaBombonthePlane:

WhatAirportsAreDoingtoPreventAnother9/11Tragedy
BoPeterson

September11,2001.9/11.Itwasthedayourcountryexperiencedoneoftheworst
terroristattacksinAmericanhistory.Itwasthedaythepeopleofourcountryrealizedhowanact
ofterrorismcouldchangeanation.ItwasthedayAmericansstartedtoquestiontheirownsafety.
ItwasthedaythatAmericawillneverforget.

Eversince9/11,peoplehavehadacertainfearoftravelingbyair.Theyareantsyabout
flyingbecausetheyareafraidthatwewillexperienceanother9/11,andthatterrorismwillstrike
ourcountryoncemore.Althoughunderstandable,thisfearisactuallyquiteillogical,giventhe
levelofprecautionairportsaretakingtoprotectpassengerssafety.Eachphaseofairport
securityhasdevelopedandimprovedsignificantlysince2001.Airportscareaboutpassenger
safetyjustasmuchastheycareaboutkeepingterrorismandotherdangersout.Nowhereisthis
moreapparentthaninairportsecurityprocedures.

Thefirstphaseofairportsecurityisprobablythemostobvious:fencesandwalls.Fences
andwallssurroundeveryairport,andaremeanttokeepouttrucksandcarsthatcouldpossibly
becarryingabomborotherexplosivedevice.Mostairportsalsohaveactivatableconcrete
barriersthatcanprotecttheairportsterminalsandmainbuildingfrompossiblevehicleintruders,
iftheydosomehowgetpastthepreliminarylayerofdefense(TysonandGrabianowski2).
Furthermore,airportshavesecurityguards,cameras,andwatchtowersscanningtheperimeterof
theairporttwentyfourhoursadayforintruders.Asanaddedsecuritymeasure,thereisno
parkinganywhereneartheterminalinanairport.Thispreventssomeonefromdrivingintothe
terminalwithabomborotherexplosive(TysonandGrabianowski2).Thesesafetyprecautions
outsidetheairportmakeflying,aswellasjustbeingintheairport,safe.Airportsarebasically
tryingtothinklikeaterrorist,andaddmoresecurityandphysicalbarrierstothepartsofthe
airportthataterroristwouldmostlikelytarget.Prettysmart.

Phasetwoofairportsecurityisatthecounter,wherebagsarechecked.Ifyouveever
checkedabaginanairport,youveseenastaffmemberscanit,putatagonit,andplaceitona
conveyorbelt,whichtakesitintoatunnel.Itthendisappearsintotheblackholeofluggageas
thestaffmemberchargesyouaridiculousamountofmoney,thengivesyoutheformal,Enjoy
yourflight.Now,thatconveyorbeltdoesnotleadstraightintotheplane.Itgoesthroughits
ownphaseofsecurity,whichincludesthreemajorxraysystemsand,insomesuspicious
cases,amachinecalledaCTScanner(TysonandGrabianowski67).

Therearethreemainxraysystemsanairportusestoscanabagorpackagegoingontoan
airplane.ThefirstsystemiscalledaMediumXRaySystem.Thismethodofscreeningscansthe
entireloadofcheckedbagsatoncetolookforsuspiciousitems,whichisincrediblyefficient.In
thiscase,theairportistryingtomakescanningquickforpassengersbags,whileatthesame
timeusingahighlevelofsecurity(TysonandGrabianowski6)
.

ThesecondscanningsystemiscalledaMobileXRaySystem.Inthissystem,alarge
truckdrivesuptoanothertruck(whichisstationary)thatiscarryingallthecargo,andscansthe
loadwithanxray.ThissystemisjustassecureastheMediumXRaySystem,butismore
flexiblewhenbagsneedtobescreenedandtransportedtoacertainareaquickly(Tysonand
Grabianowski6).

Thethirdandfinalmethodofscanningcargowithxraysisthroughasystemcalleda
FixedSiteSystem.Thissystemcaneitherbeagiantroomthatliterallyscanswholetrucksata
timewithxrays(probablythemostefficientwayairportsscreenluggage),oragroupofdogs
calledK9Units(formallyknownbytheTSAastheExplosiveDetectionCanineTeam),which
areaverycriticalpartofthescreeningprocessforcheckedbaggageandcargotobeloadedonan
aircraft.K9Unitsaregroupsofdogsthataremanuallyledbyanofficerthroughawarehouseof
goingtobeshippedcargo,lookingforexplosivesand/ordrugs(TransportSecurity
Administration1).Explosivesaretheirprimaryconcernbecausetheycanseverelyinjure
passengersordamagetheaircraftduringtheflight.Manybreedsofdogsareusedinthisprocess,
includingRetrievers,Pointers,Vizsladors,andanyotherdogbredbyaqualifiedbreederor
caninevendor(TysonandGrabianowski6).Employeestakethedogshomeeachnight,feed
them,andcareforthem,buttheyarenotconsideredpets.Theyareconsideredemployees,or
staff,oftheairport.Thatshowreliablethesedogsare.Thinkaboutit.
Staff
.Thatisthelevelofa
qualified
memberofanassociation.Howdowereallyknowthatthesedogsareactuallyreliable?
TheyaretrainedfortwomonthsattheLacklandAirForceBaseinTexas,andaretestedwithall
scentsandpossibledistractionstoensurethattheyknowexactlywhattheyarelookingfor,and
onlyfocusonfindingthatscent(TysonandGrabianowski6).Theyareguaranteedtofindeither
adrugorabombinapieceofluggage,ifoneexists(TransportSecurityAdministration1).

Bagsthatareconsideredsuspiciousasaresultofthefirstthreephasesofscanninggo
throughafourthscanningsystemcalledaCTScanner.CTScannerisalargehollowtubethat
surroundsacheckedbag,spinstotakeanxrayofthebag,andthenturnsthatxrayintoa
tomogram,orvisualsliceofthebag.TheCTScannercancalculatethemassanddensityofan
objectbyreferringtothetomogram,andcanthenwarntheoperatoraboutanysuspiciousbags
thatmaybeapossibledangertotheflight.Thissystemisrelativelyslowcomparedtotheother
threexraymethods,butisanextremelyeffectivescreeningtool.Itisveryaccuratewithits
measurementsandisvirtuallyimpossibleforaterroristtoaccess,tamperwith,ormanipulate
(TysonandGrabianowski7).

Phasethreeofairportsecurityisprobablythephaseyouaremostfamiliarwithifyouve
beentoanairport.Thisphaseisessentially
the
securityphase,andiswhatmostpeoplethinkof
asairportsecurity.Thissectionofsecurityincludesmetaldetectorsandxrayscanners,aswell
asanidentitycheck.Itusesdifferenttechnologytoscreenpassengersandtheircarryonbags
thanwhatisusedintheprocessofscreeningcheckedbaggage(TysonandGrabianowski45).
Thefirststepinthisphaseisanidentitycheck,whichiscriticalforairports.Thebasicidentity
checkinvolvesanemployeecheckingapassengersIDphoto,suchasadriverslicensefora
domesticflight,orapassportforaninternationalflight.ThemoreadvancedversionoftheID
photocheckiscalledbiometrics,andincludescheckingapersonsfingerprint,scanninga
personsretinas,aswellasdeterminingifthatpersonsfacialpatternsmatchhisorherIDphoto.

Thisisdonewithanadvancedcomputersystem,whichincludesalistofpeoplethegovernment
hasdeterminedmaybepotentialterrorists.Thebiometricsinformationismatchedagainstthat
listtodetermineifthegovernmentconsidersthatpersonapotentialterrorist(Tysonand
Grabianowski3).Thissystemisincrediblyaccurate,andisprobablythemostadvancedand
reliablewaytochecksomeonesidentity.

Anotheridentificationsystem,thatiscurrentlybeingdevelopedbutnotyetinuse,is
calledCAPPSII,orComputerAssistedPassengerPrescreeningSystem.Thissystemwillrequire
moreinformationfrompassengerswhentheybookflights,sotheairportcangetabetterideaof
whoissupposedtobeintheairportatanygiventime.CAPPSIIusesarankingsystemfor
peoplegoingthroughairportsecurity.Thissystemhasfourcategories:norisk,unknown
risk,elevatedrisk,andhighrisk.Mosttravelerswilllikelybeconsideredlowrisk,and
theDepartmentofHomelandSecurityanticipatesthattheCAPPSIIsystemwillexpeditethe
securityprocessforthem.If,however,apersonhasahighriskranking,thesecurityprocess
willlikelytakemuchlongerbecausetheywillhavetogothroughmoreprecisescreening(Tyson
andGrabianowski5).Thissystempromisestoenhancetheairportsecuritysystemevenmore.

Thesecondpartofphasethreesecurityinvolvesmetaldetectorsforpassengersand
xrayscannersforcarryons.Withrespecttometaldetectors,mostairportsusePI(pulse
induction)Technologyintheirmetaldetectors,whichmeansthattherearecoilsofwireinside
themachinewhichmakeamagneticfield.Mostmodernmetaldetectorsareconsidered
multizonePIDetectors,andhavelotsofthesecoilsofwiresetatdifferentheightstoscaneach
andeveryaspectofwhoeverorwhatevertheyarescanning.Asapersonwalksthrough,the
detectordeterminestheamountoftimethemagneticfieldlasts.Thefieldissettocollapseaftera
certainperiodoftime.Ifitcollapsesearly,thatmeansthereisapieceofmetalinterferingwith
themagneticfield(TysonandGrabianowski4).Itcouldbeaweapon,itcouldbeawatch.Either
way,securityofficerswilltakethatpersonasidetodeterminewhatobjectinterferedwiththe
magneticfield.Magneticfieldsdontlie.Metaldetectorsarethereforeanextremelyreliable
formofsecurity.

Xraysystems,likePITechnologymetaldetectors,arealsoanimportantpartofairport
security.Mostairportsusedualenergyxraysystems.Dualenergyisjustafancyphraseforthe
amountofmaterialthexrayswavescanpenetrate(therangeistypicallyarounda140160
kilovoltpeak,orKVP).ThehighertheKVP,themorethexrayselectromagneticwavescan
penetrate.Whenabagiscarriedintothesystembyaconveyorbelt,itisimmediatelyhitwith
lightfromthexray(electromagneticwaves).Amonitorontheothersideofthexraymachine
measurestheenergyleveloftheremainingwavesthatmakeitthroughthebag,totheotherside.
Themachinethencategorizestheitemsinthebagaseitherorganic,inorganic,ormetal.Whatdo
theserankingsmean,andwhydotheymatter?Theytellthesecurityofficersiftheyshouldbe
concernedaboutanythinginthebag.Thecategorysecurityofficersaremostconcernedaboutis
organic
,becausemostexplosivesareorganic(TysonandGrabianowski5).Althoughinorganic
andmetalmaterialsstillappearonthescan,theytypicallyarenothazardous,andthereforeare
notasignificantconcerntotheofficers.Officersarenotjustlookingforobviousweaponslike
bombsmadefromorganicmaterial,butarealsolookingforIEDs,orImprovisedExplosive
Devices.Thesearethetypesofexplosivesmostterroristsandhijackerstrytousebecausethey

arelessobvious.However,withmodernxraysystems,IEDsarealmostalwaysdetectedby
officers,andthemajorityofthetimetheydonotevengetclosetomakingitontotheplane
(TysonandGrabianowski5).ButifIEDs
do
makeitontotheplane,yetanotherformofairport
securitykicksintheairportstaffandAirMarshals.

Allairportstaffaretrainedtoreactimmediatelytowordslikebombandhijackthat
signaladangeroussituation.Theycanarrestatraveleronthespotjustforsayingthosewords,
evenifheorshehasnointentionofdetonatingabomborhijackingaplane(Tysonand
Grabianowski8).Itsthatserious!Airportstaffarealsoresponsibleforremindingtravelersto
keeptrackoftheirluggage.Why?Simplyput,terroristsandhijackerscanhideexplosivesor
weaponsinunattendedluggage.Ifthatweretohappen,abomborweaponcouldmakeitsway
ontoanairplaneinanunsuspectingtravelersbag.Constantlyremindingtravelerstoholdonto
theirbags(oftenthroughwhatsomeconsiderannoyingannouncements)isoneofthemany
safetyprecautionsairportshaveinplacetohelpkeeptravelerssafe(TysonandGrabianowski8).

If,despite
all
thesafetyprecautionsdiscussedabove,anexplosiveorweaponstill
somehowmakesitswayontoaplane,AirMarshalsaretheretohelp.AirMarshalsaresecret
officers,disguisedtolooklikepassengers,thatcarryaguntofendoffterrorists.AirMarshals
literallymonitortheplaneforanyunusualactivity,andtakeactionifaparticularpassenger
behavessuspiciouslyorgetsoutofhand.Thenumberofflightstheseofficersareonisunknown
andkeptsecret,butmostpeopleassumefivepercentofflightshaveAirMarshals.Thismaynot
soundlikealot,butisactuallysignificantgiventhenumberofflightsonanygivenday.Further,
thereisusuallyareasonanAirMarshalisonaparticularflight.Noteveryflightneedsa
marshalonlycertainonesareviewedaspossibleterroristtargets(TysonandGrabianowski9).
Foreven
more
security,thecockpitdooroftheplaneisheavilylockedsothat,ifadangerous
personisabletosucceedintheirmissionofgettingontotheplanewithoutanyonenoticing,they
cantaffectthepilotandorthecourseoftheflight(TysonandGrabianowski9).Thesepiecesall
worktogethertokeepeveryoneontheflightsafe,andtokeepterroristsandhijackersout.

Althoughthesefactsseemconvincing,somepeoplestilldontbelieveflyingonan
airplaneissafe.Peoplestillthinkthatterroristscanhidebombsintheirbagswithouttheairport
noticing,andthenmakeitontoaplanethatdoesnothaveanAirMarshal.Peoplealsothinkthat,
becauseof9/11,terroristsknowhowtohijackandtakeoverplanesandflights,andwillstrike
againnowthattheyareawarethattheycandoso.Thetruthis,theairportsecuritysystemis
constantlyevolvingtobecomesaferandsafer.Everydaythetechnologyusedinairportsecurity
isbeingimprovedtobetterprotectpassengers,whetherinAmericaorabroad.

So,has9/11reallymadeflyingriskier?Isflyingreallymoredangerousthanitwas
fourteenyearsago,in2001?Absolutelynot!Givenallthelevelsofsecurity,passengersafetyis
notonly
a
concernofairports,itistheir
primary
concern.Forthosewho
still
arenotconvinced
thatflyingissafe,andwhohesitatetochooseflyingoverotherformsoftransportation,takea
momenttoconsiderjusthowmanylevelsofsecurityeachofus,andeachofourbags,mustgo
through,beforeeverboardingaplane.Airportsecurityisnotjustscreeningandboarding.Itisa
wholesystemofcomplexmachinesandwelltrainedpeoplethatallworktogethertokeepeach
ofussafe.


Safetravels!