Aviation security is noticeably and demonstrably much tighter now than before the Sept.11 attacks, says Kenneth M. Mead, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mead delivered a "State of Aviation Security" address to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States on Aviation Security last week.
"The new security model is much more likely to ensure strong aviation security than its predecessor," Mead said. "However, the sense of vigilance for and priority attached to tight security can dissipate with the passage of time from a terrorist event; this, in turn, may lead to a sense of complacency as well as pressures to relax security."
To guard against complacency and to ensure continuous improvement, Mead outlined the following areas for emphasis concerning future aviation security:
- Move Forward on Explosives Detection Systems (EDS) Integration. Some estimates put the cost of integrating the equipment upwards of $3 billion.
- Strengthen Research and Development. The need to deploy better, more effective equipment to meet current and future threats will be an ongoing need for years to come. Investment must continue in research and development for more effective equipment.
- Aggressive Covert Testing should be implemented to evaluate the operational effectiveness of security systems and equipment. (TSA has established such a program). Implementation of the program will warrant regular oversight by Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General.
- Establish and Enforce Screener Performance Standards. The human factor has always been a weak link in aviation security. Since airport screeners are now TSA employees, TSA realizes it needs to develop, field test, and implement standards for measuring screener performance for various threat types using Threat Image Projection (TIP) and live testing.
- Improve Cargo Security. This includes strengthening the approval and re-approval process for indirect air carriers, and implementing a strategic plan to achieve the goal of screening cargo and mail. One of the challenges facing TSA will be the development and deployment of certified machines to screen cargo. These costs may far exceed the costs to develop and deploy EDS.
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