Sittner 1

Kevin Sittner

Ms. Gardner

English 10H/Period 6

9 May 2017

Rethinking a Broken Aviation System

To feel afraid and ashamed to interact with those responsible for protecting your life at airport

security checkpoints is unfortunately not uncommon for travelers, regardless of ethnic background, age,

or sex. Airport security refers to the methods and means by which airport staff, specifically security

screeners, aim to improve the safety of air travel on the ground, in the air, and even after deplaning.

Acting as the first line of defense for an airport, security staff are responsible for detaining criminals as

well as intercepting and confiscating weapons which pose as threats to the aviation system in order to

secure the welfare of civilians. Conflict, however, arises when security screeners overlook a dangerous

substance or device to soon find that the effects of their mistake plunged travelers into a dangerous ordeal

and travelers families into panic, and many into grief. Many incidents arising on account of the plans of

terrorists caused citizens to question the effectiveness of airport security searches and whether or not we

should accept the measures set in place by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While

airport security measures are constantly improving, it is essential to push for greater airport security such

measures compromise the wellbeing of screeners, the freedoms and security of civilians, and the true

safety of an airport.

Nobody can deny that the aviation system and its screening system is not ideal for all travelers or

all workers. However, the need for improvements to the aviation system is highlighted by improper

treatment and training of its security staff which disrupt their alertness and motivation. Journalist for the

Los Angeles times, Hugo Martin acknowledges that The starting pay [for a TSA officer] is about

$34,000 a year with no automatic pay raises based on tenure. While the starting salary may appear
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sufficient for certain workers, such a wage does not promote competition which would require applicants

to work to a higher standard in order to obtain a job. Moreover, the low wage and failure to promote

loyalty does not inspire passion, vigilance, or motivation for screeners to hold that position. Such

mistreatment is reflected in a recent poll: The TSA recently was ranked nearly last, remarks Martin,

among all federal agencies in a job satisfaction survey. With the number of TSA screeners decreasing

by 10% and the number of travelers increasing by 16% since 2012, a screener must take on a larger

workload than usual (Martin). The lack of satisfaction combined with abnormally taxing work places TSA

staff at risk for fatigue, sloppiness, and a lack of proper judgement in what technology officer for

Resilient Systems, Bruce Schneier, perceives to be an incredibly boring job where almost all alerts are

false alarms (qtd. in No More of the Same, Please). With increased demands for an already taxing job,

the treatment and wage of security screeners proves insufficient to motivate and to inspire tenure in the

first line of defense against terrorism.

In addition to issues directly affecting screeners, the training for TSA staff and protocol at

security checkpoints creates conflict between screeners and even the most innocent of travelers, while

compromising the security of an individual citizen. The TSA collects massive amounts of data regarding

your trip, including essential information and highly personal information including your address, the

hotel you stay at, and even the food you order on board, which are stored in passenger name records

(PNRs). Although a PNR may offer insight into the background and tendencies of an uncaptured criminal,

the gathering of such information places innocent people at risk for identity theft and allows any person

determined enough to access this information, all the while wasting time and resources which could be

used to locate and capture criminals who are known to pose as threats against humanity (Gormley). Such

knowledge would appear alarming and intrusive to the privacy of innocent travelers, while proving to be a

difficult concept for many travelers to accept, even those who are aware of this data gathering. Not only

are large amounts of data collected about a travelers trip, but also about their body. The implementation
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of full body scans and random pat-downs has caused travelers to feel violated, uncomfortable, and less

secure as the scans offer private information to total strangers, information which often times does not

remain a secret to just one security screener. Many screeners recognize the instructive nature of such tests

and feel just as uncomfortable as travelers while carrying them out. Jason Harrington, former TSA officer,

claims, It was a job that had me patting down the crotches of children, the elderly and even infants as

part of the post-9/11 airport security show (qtd. in Smith). Such measures which leave both security

personnel and flyers embarrassed and less secure are far most distracting and time-consuming than they

are, even those which are only done to a limited number of travelers. In many cases, however, the traveler

which is to be searched is not chosen at random, but rather chosen based upon nationality (Smith). After

revisiting the temporary suspension of racial profiling in the United States, Sari Horowitz reports officers

and agents at the Department of Homeland Security will still be allowed to use the controversial practice,

including while they screen airline passengers as of 2014. As racial profiling is still widely practiced by

screeners, many minorities become just as uncomfortable as those who are not targeted, if not more so as

they grow ashamed of their homeland and of their nationality, feeling that they are are ill-intentioned

criminals regardless of how innocent they may be. In summation, measures which aim to make flyers feel

safe actually degrade many travelers, be it through profiling, or intrusive body scans, which evoke fear

and insecurity above comfort and trust.

Yet, many individuals believe the constant improvements to the aviation system to be sufficient

in preventing terrorist groups and other threats against humanity from carrying out attacks, while

improving the pre- and post-flight experience for travelers. Ever since 9/11, the TSA has sought to

provide answers to questions which arose regarding the safety of the United States aviation system and

ease the crippling the stigma associated with flying. In a speech addressed to the Center for Strategic and

International Security, TSA officer John S. Pistols reflects upon the remarkable development of security

measures since 9/11 such as the addition of Advanced Imaging Technology to screen the full body of a
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traveler or scanners to detect explosives and liquids in baggage (qtd. in Addressing CSIS: Evolution of

Aviation Security since 9/11). Such measures have hastened screening times, boosted the morale of

pilots as well as travelers, and proved effective in the fight against terrorism and the protection of civilian

lives. Moreover, the implementation of the TSA Pre-Check system boasts shortened lines for law-abiding

citizens and potential improvements to the effectiveness of standard searches. Security screeners search

among passengers for the small percentage who want to cause harm, not unlike searching for the

proverbial needle in a haystack, notes computer scientist and professor at University of Illinois, Sheldon

Jacobson, a PreCheck system essentially splits the haystack (qtd. from Schouten). This system not only

will help other reduce the wait times and for citizens proven innocent, but also narrow down the list of

potential suspects, consequently reducing fatigue and lack of energy seen in security screeners. However,

the extensive list of measures and technologies used to improve security are far less secure than we are

made to think, even if they do appeal to the emotions of flyers.

Total security of an airport is known to be unattainable regardless of how effective the security

measures in place may be at protecting flyers. However, overwhelming statistics, numerous holes in the

screening system, and frequent tragedies suggest that procedures are not sufficient in halting attacks on

the aviation system before they can occur, especially when terrorist attacks are becoming more common.

Marie Mosca, journalist for the University Wire, reports the alarming results of a recent study on the

success rate of locating weapons in passengers baggage: The TSA last year missed 95 percent of mock

explosives and weapons smuggled through to test the system as reported by Fortune Magazine. Airport

security must take action if there is even the slightest concern regarding an object, and have failed to do

so if they were able to notice first. The thought of the screeners failing to take note of the majority of

weapons that went through in a test makes travelers weary, skeptical, and ultimately fearful that they are

at risk for attack due to the TSAs lack of responsibility. In addition, the most gap in the TSA Pre-Check

system can grant terrorists with clean criminal records their way through the expedited line with more
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lenient scans. Often times, terrorists who have no criminal backgrounds are the ones who carry out

attacks, as there is less suspicion that a seemingly innocent traveler will threaten others (Hawley). All it

takes is one mistake to yield tragedy, contribute the growing stigma associated with air traveler, and place

innocent humans at risk for an unwarranted death. This year, the shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood

International Airport carried out by Esteban Santiago resulted in the casualties of five innocent air

travelers and costly psychological damage to all involved. Annika Dean, a school teacher lucky enough to

escape the shooting with her two sons, recalls what she believed to be her final wish: God, dont make

my children grow up without a mother (qtd. in Gurney). Attacks inflict wounds upon the most

well-intentioned people, ending countless lives and striking fear and grief in even the most distant family

members, be it the brother, daughter, uncle, or mother of a victim. Even those who escape shells may

never escape that sense of trauma and helplessness even after a threat is neutralized. Ultimately, airport

security measures are far less secure than the TSA portrays them to be, placing millions at risk for

immense danger and undeniable devastation.

Because of the current circumstances of airport security, which fail to promote the welfare of its

screeners, creates conflict between staff and travelers, and is insufficient in protecting civilians from

constant attacks, a push for improved security measures is of the utmost importance. In order for the TSA

to become more successful in countering threats against humanity, it must turn its focus to security

screeners, as they control interactions with both the innocent and ill-intentioned. Rosemary OConnor,

journalist for the University Wire, notes the growing importance of screeners: As soon as a person steps

foot into an airport, security is responsible for that person's life and the lives of other travelers. If the

TSA fails to take steps towards improving measures, they will continue to contribute to the stigma

associated with flying and make the United States more susceptible to attacks from both outside and

inside forces. While the government is responsible for managing the TSA, change begins with the

awareness and support of the people. Now, more than ever, there is a great need for advancements to an
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ineffective security system which seeks to combat terrorism using fear, the same tactic used by the threats

which we are aiming to protect our civilians from.

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Works Cited

Addressing CSIS: Evolution of Aviation Security since 9/11. Transportation Security Administration, 7

Apr. 2015, www.tsa.gov/news/speeches/addressing-csis-evolution-aviation-security-911.

Gormley, Shannon. "When Travel Security Causes More Insecurity." Ottawa Citizen, 12 Sep, 2016, pp.

A.8, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=387824&type=ART.

Gurney, Kyra , et al. They Survived the Fort Lauderdale Airport Rampage. Now They Tell Their

Stories. Miami Herald, www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/

article126326689.html.

Hawley, Kip. "PreCheck Endangers Us." Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec, 2016, pp. A.17, S IRS Issues

Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com//webapp/article?artno=0000392588&type=ART.

Horwitz, Sari, and Jerry Markon. Racial Profiling Will Still Be Allowed at Airports, along Border

despite New Policy. The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Dec. 2014,

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/racial-profiling-will-still-be-allowed-at-airports-along-border-

despite-new-policy/2014/12/05/a4cda2f2-7ccc-11e4-84d4-7c896b90abdc_story.html?utm_term=.

54c06590314d.

Martin, Hugo. Treating TSA Agents Better Might Reduce Airports' Long Lines. Los Angeles Times,

Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2016, www.latimes.com/business/

la-fi-tsa-turnover-20160815-snap-story.html.

Mosca, Marie. "Airport Security Mishap Causes Concern among Flyers." University Wire, 09 Feb, 2016,

SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=380465&type=ART.

No More of the Same, Please." Economist, Nov, 2015, pp. 59-60, SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=378292&type=ART.

O'Connor, Rosemary. "Flying High, Staying Safe: Safety First!" University Wire, 29 Apr, 2015, SIRS

Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=373364&type=ART.

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Schouten, Lucy. "TSA PreCheck: Will it Shorten Security Lines at Airports?" Christian Science Monitor,

25 Jun, 2016, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com/webapp/

article?artno=0000385060&type=ART.

Smith, Oliver. Confessions of an Airport Security Worker. The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 5

Feb. 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/Confessions-of-an-airport-security-worker/.