Introduction
Airport security involves various methods and techniques used to protect passengers, aircraft and staff from harm, crime or any other threat. As a lot people pass through airports in their travel missions every day, there are always threats and dangers because large crowds like those experienced in airports may be targets for terrorism and other threats. It is the duty of the airlines and the federal government to provide security in all entry and exit points of the United Sates. Airports are some of the most vulnerable points in terms of terrorism, hijacking and other malicious threats. Therefore, security checks should always be intensified in airports. This ensures that the country is set free from any threat at the airports.
Before the 1970s, there were many incidences of aircraft hijacking and other malicious acts. Sky marshals were introduced in U.S’s airports in 1970 in order to deal with the problem of aircraft hijacking. Because the sky marshals were insufficient to cover all airports, reports of hijackings continued to be experienced in subsequent years. In 1972, hijackers posed a serious threat to the airlines by threatening to fly Southern Airways Flight 49 into a nuclear reactor. This incident led the state to require airlines to screen passengers and their luggage from January 5, 1973. The terrorist attack of United States on September 11 led the government to start even tougher measures on security checks at airports.
Current airlines in United Sates have managed to use new technologies to enhance security at the airport and on flight. However, there are always backdrops and limitations. This report will attempt to find the positive and negative ways that airlines use in US’s airports to provide security checks for customers.
Methodology
This report conducted with the help of both primary and secondary research methods. The report will highlight some of the key methods it has used in finding out the facts related to the study. It will then identify the facts from secondary and primary research, and analyze such facts. It is important to determine the methodology used because it will show the level of accuracy of the study. It will also determine whether the report can be relied upon in drawing inferences and conclusions. Although the methodology does not contain the results of the study, it tells us whether we can rely on the results that come out of it or not.
I conducted primary data collection in order to find information first hand from the fields, I visited one of the largest airports in the United States, and conducted primary research on the actions of the airlines, the airport management, TSA activities and concerns and interests of the travelers and airline crews. The primary research was made up of a series of observations, surveys (using questionnaires) and interviews. This information will then be recorded, coded and encrypted in order to form a good basis for the facts related to the problem. Questionnaires will be administered on passengers leaving and arriving into the airport. Secondary research will include internet sources in terms of news and articles that contain relevant information concerning airport security checks.
The use of questionnaires ensures that relevant, objective and reliable data can be obtained from the report. The method will enable the collection of qualitative data that can be used to provide objective analysis in order to promote hypothesis testing and draw meaningful conclusions.
Analysis
Airport access
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the security of American airlines at US airports has become a major concern to most Americans including the government. Because airplanes were used to carry out the September 11 attacks, air security has now been given a specific attention in the major airports of the USA. This confirms the assertion of Waugh (2004) that specific events call for the adoption of counterterrorism policies and programs. After the 2001 terrorist attack on USA, various measures have been taken to ensure security of airlines and airline travelers. These measures include: use of federal passenger screeners at the airports; baggage screening; use of explosive detection systems; background checks on travelers; expansion of Federal Air Marshal Program; and aircrafts fitted with hardened cockpit doors.
Despite these measures, security checks in USA’s airports are still faced by vulnerabilities and threats that could be used by criminals and terrorists to carry out their malicious activities. One of the vulnerabilities at airports is weak physical access control at the airports. According to Sumner (2007), various characteristics make airports to be susceptible to terrorism. One of them is accessibility. Airports were constructed before terrorism became a threat, so the issue of terrorism was not considered in their design. The second characteristic of the airports is extent and ubiquity. The third characteristic of US airports is the need for efficiency and competitiveness. Airlines often compete for passengers and for profits. Therefore, security measures that are costly and detrimental to operations are often rejected by some airlines.
Terrorists and other criminals often utilize airport weaknesses to approach and hijack an aircraft. Most US airports have airport access control mechanisms which determine the people that have access to services, facilities, and sensitive airport areas. There are various employees with privileges to access the airport. These employees include: pilots, baggage handlers, gate agents, ticket agents, flight attendants, airport security, air traffic controllers and airport operations staff.
Biometric Technology
Biometrics refers to a technology that measures and analyzes unique biological and physiological features which can be stored and retrieved for the purposes of identification. Apart from being used for identification, biometrics can also be used for authentication. Biometrics can be used to overcome the problems encountered in traditional airport control methods. This step is in line with the goal of TSA to be ahead of terrorists by developing, selecting and deploying cutting edge technology. Biometrics may include identification of people using fingerprints or retina scanning. This is more significant in enhancing airport security than traditional methods such as key or PIN that can be compromised. Biometric identification is convenient because it cannot be stolen, forgotten or borrowed.
Theoretical framework
There are theories that can explain the factors that influence the choices of airport security directors in adopting biometric technologies.
First, modern airports in United States are examples of organizations developed for the purpose of business. Therefore, organizational theory applies to the scenario of US airports. Organizational theory is based on various factors of organizational development and management. These organizational factors include: decision making, strategy, communication, cultural change, leadership and other organizational factors. Airports are nowadays typical of such organizations. They make decisions, develop strategies, lead and manage operations, and enhance efficiency through resource allocation and utilization. The airport staff members take care of the pecuniary interests of the airport in every decision they make. As a result, conflicts often arise between them and TSA and airline security directors; hence making security checks more difficult.
The development or adoption of technologies such as Biometric technologies in any organization requires organizational and managerial investigation and analysis for effective decision making. The organization often makes decisions that favor their strategic and organizational goals and objectives. Therefore, adoption of biometric technologies in airports requires the acceptance of both the airports’ operational culture and the airport security directors.
Organizational change is an important aspect of organizational theory. It involves transformation of an organization and the process that determines the transformation. Organizational changes occur as a result of response to the environment and internal plans to achieve higher profitability, efficiency, effectiveness and quality. External, internal, political, environmental, technological and political factors affect the level of organizational change experienced in an organization. The level at which organizations adapt to change depends on the willingness of the organization and its ability to adapt to change. As organizations, airports also tend to adapt to change differently. Biometric Technology is one of the technological factors that may influence change in organizations. Due to organizational culture and different levels of willingness to change, various airports respond to biometric technologies differently. Some airports adopt it in order to enhance customer satisfaction while others avoid it in order to cut on operational and production costs.
Data analysis
Primary data collected during the research will be analyzed using graphs, charts, table and percentages. Secondary data on the other hand will be analyzed by the various views that were given from the internet, journals and books. I will critically review the material by looking at various issues presented by people through internet material and books.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it has been established that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) has taken over the work of airlines to screen passengers before boarding aircrafts. In order to ensure that security of sincere travelers is guaranteed, the TSA provides various security check measures for airlines to use. The main method used for security check in USA’s airports is Biometric Technology. This security check method involves various passenger and baggage screening approaches at the airport. Most respondents of the research are aware of the pre-check program and biometric technology, majority of them do not think that the responsible authorities (airlines and TSA) are doing enough to ensure that the security checks are effective. Therefore, the Department of Homeland Security needs to determine how to make the same security checks work faster and more efficiently while maintaining the same reduced levels of crime and terrorism. Airlines and airport management should also work together with the TSA in an integrative manner in order to enhance the effectiveness of security checks in airports in terms of crime reduction, efficient resource management and faster service for passengers.
Reference
Sumner, K.M. (2007). Airport security: examining the current state of acceptance of biometrics and the propensity of adopting biometric technology for airport access control. Dissertation paper for the University of Florida.
