Airport Security

May 1, 1997 12:00 PM, By EMILY HARWOOD

A young man at a ticket counter attracted the attention of the Orange County Airport security staff as he attempted to check in a duffel bag. Two of the security men politely held each arm while another not so politely turned the bag upside down, held it over his head, shook it and even tore out the lining.

Within 10 minutes there was more confusion at a different ticket counter. A distraught woman was insisting there was a dangerous person in the airport and the authorities needed to be notified immediately! She was quite vocal about her concerns and was eventually led away by airport security.

Another gentleman appeared at a ticket counter with a large television set wrapped in several blankets, in a baby basket, which he did not want to send through x-ray. Fifteen minutes elapsed as the ticket agents explained why the bundle must be screened.

It may seem unusual that these events happened within a short timespan, but the fact is security-related delays at airports are becoming a common occurrence. The average traveler may be unaware of the complicated policies and procedures involved in providing safe passage through America's airports.

Airport security is a serious responsibility shared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airports and airlines. The primary role of the FAA is to promote aviation and aviation safety and to disseminate FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations). Part 107 of these regulations says, No airport operator may operate an airport subject to this part unless it adopts and carries out a security program that provides for the safety of persons and property traveling in air transportation and intrastate air transportation against acts of criminal violence and aircraft piracy.

To carry out this directive, most airports in the United States rely on the services of companies who specialize as security providers. Dulles International Airport, serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, employs Argenbright Holdings Ltd., Atlanta, Ga. Argenbright, considered an industry leader, keeps a low profile. Argenbright would never comment on what security services they provide. The reason for the silence is to avoid prompting disturbed individuals to attempt security breaches as publicity stunts or worse. Only a few companies in the United States provide this type of security service, and the majority adhere to the same code of silence.

Individual airline responsibilities usually begin at airline checkpoints as prescribed in the regulations (see sidebar).

Screening for hijackers Passenger and carry-on luggage screening technology was first instituted in 1973 and is still in use today. Originally intended to uncover hijack weapons, the x-ray machine is an important airport security tool. The walk-through metal detector is likewise meant to disclose hidden weapons.

EG&G Astrophysics, a leading provider of such security systems, recently launched a product called Z-SCAN, a high-performance x-ray security screening system that automatically detects explosives and contraband. Models are available in varying sizes for analyzing check-in baggage and carry-on pieces. These x-ray units typically display images of organic, inorganic and very dense materials in varying colors to assist the viewer in identifying contents. Unfortunately, the reliability of these systems is only as good as the people operating them. Watching a monitor for long hours at a time on a daily basis can become arduous for even the most attentive employee. A solution to this problem is provided by EG&G's operator assist option, which draws an ellipse on the video monitor around suspicious objects.

Tragedy spotlights access control Access control systems are also key elements of airport security. An unfortunate example of the importance of access control occurred in 1987 when a disgruntled employee caused the crash of a Pacific Southwest airliner that resulted in the death of 43 people. Because the terminated employee's identification badge was not taken from him, he was able to board an airplane with a loaded gun. After he shot the pilot, copilot and himself, the plane plunged to earth out of control. FAA regulations concerning access privileges were tightened after this incident.

Too lengthy to duplicate here, Sec. 107.31 Access Investigation lists four pages of specific requirements pertaining to individuals who may be cleared for unescorted access to restricted areas. All individuals who have a need for unescorted access, including food caterers, contractors and maintenance personnel, must undergo an access investigation based on these regulations.

Due to the labor-intensive process involved in gaining authorization, companies such as The Integrity Center, Dallas, offer programs for FAA/Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) access investigation. These services are available to airports and airport service providers. More information about The Integrity Center and the investigation processes required by the FAA can be found online at www.integctr.com.

New screening methods In addition to these traditional security measures, passenger profiling and passenger bag matching procedures can be used based on a risk assessment. Passenger profiling, a method of identifying potentially threatening passengers who are then subjected to additional security measures, has not gained much popularity because it is far from fail-safe and fraught with potential invasion of privacy and civil liberties issues. Passenger bag matching, a way to ensure that passengers who have checked baggage also board the flight, is a successful deterrent to bombs getting aboard airplanes. Unfortunately, this time-consuming process is required only on international flights. Several companies are developing more efficient bag matching systems that may be used on all passenger flights in the future. Until effective bag matching systems are developed, explosive detection devices are the obvious deterrent to bombs.

The advent of plastic (or plastique) explosives has reduced the effectiveness of conventional x-ray screening systems. Developed by the British during World War II, plastic explosives have become the popular choice of terrorists. Because it is very malleable, this explosive material can be formed into innocent shapes that are easily missed by traditional screening methods.

After the infamous Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, new explosive detection systems known as thermal neutron analysis (TNA) devices were tested. The devices use radiation to screen carry-on and checked baggage for nitrogen. Six TNA systems were deployed worldwide by Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) between 1989 and 1994. SAIC claims that TNA can detect all known commercial and military explosives, including plastics.

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