Airline Security Questions

On September 11, 2001, we learned that our world was forever changed. When we woke up the next day, it was to a new, scary and unknown world. Commercial airliners were used as weapons to kill Americans and destroy our sites and symbols of commerce, military and government.

A little over nine years later, the Federal Government is still making changes to how we fly. Over time, Americans have gracefully accepted these new procedures from the TSA, to the checkpoint lines (notoriously long at Denver, Orlando and during rush hour at Newark), to the toiletry/carry-on regulations. Their latest change has people who fly very unnerved and that is the radiation body scanner, which are being used in addition to the magnetometers, which are currently used in the nation's airports, as well as at various landmarks, and in some schools.

When an individual uses these machines, they stand in the area with hands up and the X-Ray radiation beams with which you are zapped, scans the user's body and the images are shown to the TSA employee operating the machine who can determine if there are any banned substances and/or weapons on the person.

There are great reservations among people who fly in response to the increasing service of these devices. First, many are uncomfortable with their naked bodies being scanned to a computer and viewed by someone who isn't a family member or a doctor. The privacy issue is very troubling. Being zapped with radiation, raising a risk of being diagnosed with cancer, is an even larger reservation. We must ask ourselves if this use of technology is appropriate. I do not believe it is and others agree with me. Pilot unions, flight attendants, Islamic Organizations, along with tourism groups and grassroots organizations are speaking out against the scanners; some even going as far to declare a National Opt-Out Day. An option, which I will be undertaking next time I fly, will be to "Opt Out," if the airport(s) I use will have them in service. When one does, they are patted down by a TSA Employee. Unfortunately, these pat downs are not uniform, as there have been complaints, one of which, is explained by Alex Jones and a member of his staff:



The pat down is just as intrusive, but at least travelers are not risking cancer in this fashion. If going for the opt-out, it is recommended to have a woman TSA agent frisk children and other women, and to have the pat-down in public. It would be a good idea if Homeland Security develops and practices uniform methods of pat downs, so as to assuage the reservations of travelers.

Now the question many ask is what to do in lieu of the body scanners. Homeland Security must look at how security is handled at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport and should listen to the advice of former El Al Head of Security,Isaac Yeffet, who clearly explains that behavioral analysis and behavioral recognition have been integral in stopping hijackings and preventing terrorist attacks that may have roots in the airport. It is a viable option to consider and brings in the human factor, as we have seen many times that while technology can give our side an advantage, that advantage is not always a given.

Behavioral analysis will not only benefit the airline industry and travel/tourism, but it will not put civil liberties and health at risk, and will keep those who fly safe from the threat of terrorism.

UPDATE, 11/14/10: An incident occurred yesterday at San Diego International Airport where a man who was randomly selected to submit to the body scan or "more intrusive pat-down." He refused, claiming it was a violation of his rights, as well as the fact that he observed TSA employees let a traveler pass who set off the magnetometer. After a few minutes and confrontations with management and police, he was escorted from the airport and denied boarding of his flight. The incident was caught on video and posted to YouTube and the individual's blog.