Transformations Of Airport Security Post 9/11
Other than these normal screening machines is an Explosives Detection System. This is a larger machine relates to a CAT-scan. As luggage is placed on a conveyor belt, the machine tests the molecular composition of the suitcases(Safeguarding the Nation's Transportation System 2,4). The machines are based off the idea that explosives contain specific chemical elements in rations and amounts that separate them from non dangerous substances.
The baggage placed in the machines are battered with neutrons. The chemical reactions are inspected by the machines to determine if there are and what explosives exist(Safeguarding the Nation's Transportation System 4). These machines go through every individual who is traveling and are crucial to the airport security system. The only people that are allowed into the gate areas of airports are passengers with plane tickets and a form of identification and employees who also have identification. After these gates, passengers are only allowed a carry-on bag that will go through additional screening, which is not unfamiliar. Passengers are permitted food on airplanes, however this food has to go through the screening process.
The first step of getting through the airport is the X-ray machine, also known as screening, where carry-ons and personal goods are filed through. This is supposed to find any sort of object that can hurt others. In the 9/11 attacks, hijackers used box cutters, and as a result the government has enlarged the prohibited items aloud in carry-ons(Safeguarding the Nation's Transportation System 5). The airport security officials have methodical ways to select certain passengers for additional screenings. They find these people with the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, known as CAPPS. CAPPS enables security authorities to segregate travelers who may represent a security through government research of terrorist profiles. Another important system is the CAPPS, where this system identifies exactly who purchases tickets, whether or not the tickets are one way, bought with cash, or have any suspicion, then, if so, are subjected for further evaluation(Safeguarding the Nation's Transportation System 6).CAPPS had been active during 9/11, as it suspected the 6 terrorists involved as possible threats but only was there a detailed luggage check, which had nothing peculiar(Safeguarding the Nation's Transportation System 6-7).
Nowadays, if suspected under CAPPS, you go through extra comprehensive screening(Safeguarding the Nation's Transportation System 7). (See Appendix B). The improvements made towards upgraded screenings and enlarged searching tactics have provided Airport officials with the technology they need to find anyone or anything that may cause a problem.
There are many ways to go about the problem of Terrorism and Airport Security, but there were strategies that were improved to go about the issue, in which are crucial towards a safe and secure Airport system. There are many factors that bettered the security systems in the U.S. but three factors contributed substantially since 9/11.
