Enhancing Aviation Security

This article discusses how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently applying technological innovation, flexibility, and adaptation to its airport screening operations. Established by the U.S. Congress shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, TSA has, since 2002, coordinated passenger and baggage screening operations at more than 450 U.S. commercial airports. These operations involve overseeing security at more than 2,000 checkpoint lanes that handle more than 2 million passengers on an average day. Technology has played a large part in managing this traffic, especially during peak holiday travel periods. TSA constantly seeks out new checkpoint and checked baggage screening technologies being offered by the ever expanding number of vendors in the security technology market. Examples of such technologies include everything from bottled liquid scanners to whole body imagers (WBI) that use electromagnetic waves to reflect the body's energy in order to detect weapons and explosives (both metallic and non-metallic) hidden under layers of clothing. Another promising technology is advanced technology X-ray (AT), which adds density and dimension to objects placed in carry-on bags. TSA is also making use of Web-based applications and smaller-sized equipment. The Web-based applications are designed to both enhance and support higher operational functions in TSA equipment while the use of smaller-sized equipment increases both flexibility and mobility.