How to Really Improve Airport Security

Current threat detection systems were implemented at airports in the early 1970s in response to increased hijackings of commercial aircraft prior to that time. These systems have been in place relatively unchanged since then. For example, screening procedures continue to focus on detecting metallic objects on the person or in passengers' carry-on baggage. Human operators continue to playa key role in the detection process by examining X-ray images, resolving metal detector alarms, conducting body scans with metal detection wands, conducting physical searches of baggage, and maintaining order at screening checkpoints. Now, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the effectiveness of these systems has been called into question, even though the hijackings of that day did not involve any screening failures (hijackers carried only authorized items when boarding the aircraft). Since September 11, elected officials, media pundits, and security experts have been critical of airport threat detection systems, using strong language to criticize screening personnel for their inattentiveness, lack of motivation, and inappropriate employment histories, such as criminal records (for example, "Questions About," 2001; "Weapons Still Elude," 2001). Subsequent detection failures have led to heightened criticism and punitive actions against screening personnel and their employers.