| Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the | | | | and rotten working hours. Because of this, only a |
| World Trade Center in New York, the United States | | | | few of these security personnel have gained |
| had adopted tougher air travel security regulations | | | | extensive and relevant work experience. Aside from |
| for all its aviation thoroughfares. In particular, the US | | | | inexperienced employees, most of the screening |
| Department of Transportation had to impose | | | | gadgets used in airports are already outdated. |
| immediate changes in response to the attacks. As a | | | | Moreover, the sensitivity of some magnometers or |
| result, various airlines had to reduce the number of | | | | metal detectors are adjusted and turned down as |
| their daily flights suddenly, to comply with the new | | | | not to deter passenger flows. Another issue that |
| rules. Airport administrators had also been required to | | | | plagued airport security is allegations that they are |
| beef up their security protocols through the use of | | | | implemented in a discriminatory manner. Apparently, |
| modern explosive detection systems and the | | | | intrusive searches and interrogations were based on |
| observance of stricter passenger screening | | | | the race, ethnic origin, or religion of the traveler being |
| procedures. Through airport safety metrics, these | | | | screened. |
| security measures are then regularly evaluated to | | | | For airports to become more protected against |
| determine their effectiveness. | | | | threats, the previously mentioned limitations and |
| Airport safety or security is a vital concern for | | | | vulnerabilities of airport security should be immediately |
| airport administrators and managers. This matter is | | | | and effectively addressed. In addition, new security |
| critical due to the fact that a large number of people | | | | protocols should be implemented to yield maximum |
| come to airports every day from different places of | | | | security benefit without violating the passengers' right |
| origin. Likewise, it is also imperative that airport | | | | to privacy. Airport authorities and airline management |
| authorities continuously improve their security | | | | should also work together with the Federal Aviation |
| protocols to keep up with the increasing demands for | | | | Administration to fund training activities and to |
| airport safety. The security and detection machines | | | | procure advanced security monitoring equipment. This |
| and equipment used should feature advanced | | | | way, the knowledge and abilities of airport security |
| capabilities to make them more effective in detecting | | | | personnel will slowly become at par with that of |
| restricted items like bombs, weapons, and potentially | | | | terrorists. According to aviation security insiders, |
| flammable items. | | | | terrorists have become more sophisticated in the |
| According to the Emergency Response and Research | | | | manner with which they do their activities. |
| Institute, there are various aspects of airport | | | | The use of airport safety metrics, like the number of |
| operations that need to be looked into by concerned | | | | security checks, the number of screening equipment, |
| authorities. Among these is the lack of training of | | | | length of time for security checks, and many others |
| employees who are operating luggage screening | | | | shall greatly help airport authorities design their |
| systems. Usually, airport or airline authorities | | | | security protocols. Moreover, they will function as |
| outsource these employees to perform essential | | | | indicators of success or failure, which would aid in the |
| security checks. Unfortunately, there is a high | | | | decision-making tasks of concerned individuals. |
| turnover rate for these jobs due to their low pay | | | | |