Is Airport Security Intrusive? A Comparative Analysis (English 1301)

This essay, written for English 1301, explores the multifaceted issue of airport security. It begins by defining airport security and its importance in protecting travelers and aircraft from threats. The essay then delves into the effectiveness of current security measures, citing reports of security breaches and comparing the practices of the United States with those of other countries, particularly in Europe. It highlights differences in screener training, citizenship requirements, and privacy considerations. The essay also discusses the role of technology, such as facial scanning and innovative screening machines, in enhancing security. It concludes by proposing several measures to improve airport security, including increased screener wages, camera surveillance in pilot cabins, and integration with national intelligence networks. The essay aims to analyze the balance between security measures and the potential for intrusion on passenger privacy, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and innovation in airport security practices.

Maharjan
Muna Maharjan
Angela Taylor
English 1301-51014
14 Nov 2018
Is airport security intrusive?
Airport security is the method and practices used to protect travelers, employees and airplanes
which operate in the airport from malicious harm threats and other crimes. With a large number
of people passing through airports daily, it presents a potential target for terrorism and other
crimes due to the high concentration of people located in the same place. The present security at
the airport has proven that safety has always been an illusion. As the American people become
more keen on the false security, a question is raised how safe is our airport security? It is evident that
other nations have been suffering too due to that.
According to Gormley, travelers do remember a report that was leaked in 2015 about T.S.A.
The report revealed that screeners at the airport did not detect over 90% of items that were
banned by the government (Gormley, Shannon). Security breaches have been observed through
various characteristics (Green, Josh). However, the government has shown the measures that it
has taken to keep the travelers safe.
Airport security is working very well and trying to curb attacks from happening. With the high
concentration of people in large airliners, there is a potential top death rate with attacks on
aircraft; the ability to use a hijacked plane as a lethal weapon may provide an alluring target for
terrorism. Airport security works to curb and prevent any threat or dangerous situation from
arising. Through the success of airport security, to curb such activities, there has been a control
on appearing of any dangerous situation or, illegal items such as marijuana entering any country
(Weed, Julie). The TSA has been working on an innovating machine that scans for substances that
are prohibited in the airplanes (Karp, Aaron, and Nensel, Mark)
In the United States, workers who are the least are the air terminals last line of defense while
in the countries of western European, airport security is regarded as a career path. The security
screeners are paid twice and are taken under good training unlike in the U.S. the most important
military presence is found at the airstrip. The government has an ultimate obligation for
screeners, not the aircrafts. Unlike in the U.S. Contradicting to U.S, Belgium only allows
screeners jobs to be taken by citizens of the country. France requires only European Union
country citizen to serve as screeners in the airport. This is because citizenship makes it easier to

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run a background check on any potential screeners. In the US, the Federal Aviation
Administration requires any screener to have the training of 12 hours before they start working.
France has placed 60 hour training for new screeners. Unlike US where screening of private
items like phone are done, other countries consider this as intrusion of privacy rights (Palazzolo,
Joe). Countries such as Canada, India, France, Belgium, will only permit ticketed travelers to go
through the screening checkpoints, however, freeing screener to do a thorough check on fewer
people. In the United Kingdom and at Belgium main airstrip, the security officers are often
equipped with automatic armaments during a patrol or at the barriers. In Europe’s airport, the
government has brought in private partnership. The security issues on the runway are handled by
the individual companies under the government oversight. The outcome of this is that the airport
is more flexible to program staffing to match call, and new tools acquirement without
cumbersome bureaucracy.
According to lawmakers in Washington, there is still debate with each party differing with
based on its ideas. The debate on whether the federal government should assume complete
control of airport security screeners. Also suggestion on how to improve airport safety through
innovation has been brought forth ( Wall, Robert).
To boost the confidence of air travelers and staff working at the airport. The following
measure could be taken into consideration. First, to reduce the high staff turnover of the
screeners, their wages should be reviewed or transferred to the government to handle their
payment. This can be done when the screener job is made a career path. The screeners should be
regularly trained on new technology and be enlightened on new ways used to commit a crime.
Secondly, cameras should be positioned at the pilot's cabin, so that the pilot can know how to
react in case of potential disturbance. Thirdly, facial canning instruments should be deployed at
the airport surrounding, to match the faces of travelers or crowds to the databases of terrorists
(Taylor, Peter Shawn). Fourthly, the flight schedule should spread out and peak period reduced,
this will lessen the security at the airport from straining. Faithfully, the airport security should be
connected to the nation’s intelligence network. Lastly, fingerprints ground workers should be
done, and criminal background check should be conducted. The above measures should be taken
to increase the security at the airport in the US.

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Works Cited
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Dec 2015, MasterFILE Premier
Gormley, Shannon. “Please Let Us Grope You for Your Air-Travel Security.” Ottawa Citizen, 3
Jan 2017. SIRS Issue Researcher, https://sks-sirs-com.dcccd.idm.oclc.org.Accessed 14
Nov.2017.
Green, Josh. “Security Breach.” Atlanta, Dec 2015, MasterFILE Premier.
Karp, Aaron, and Nensel, Mark. “Tomorrow’s Checkpoint.” Air Transport World, 20 Mar 2017,
Master FILE Premier
Maher, Joseph B. “Device Searches Improve Safety.” USA Today, 28 May 2017. SIRS Issue
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Palazzolo, Joe. “Border Cellphone Searches Targeted in New Lawsuit.” Wall Street Journal
Online, 13 Sept 2017. SIRS Issue Researcher, https://sks-sirs-com.dcccd.idm.oclc.org.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017
Tanfani, Joseph, and Hugo Martin. “Aviation Security Gets Lift.” Los Angeles Times, 29 Jun
2017. SIRS Issue Researcher, https://sks-sirs-com.dcccd.idm.oclc.org.Accessed 14 Nov.
2017. On Wednesday 28th June 2017
Taylor, Peter Shawn. “Smile, You're in the Database!” Maclean's, 01 May 2017. SIRS Issue
Researcher https://sks-sirs-com.dcccd.idm.oclc.org.Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Wall, Robert. “How to Make the Airport Experience More Traveler-Friendly.” Wall Street
Journal Online, 21 Jun 2017. SIRS Issue Researcher https://sks-sirs-
com.dcccd.idm.oclc.org.Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Weed, Julie. “Legal Marijuana Ends at Airport Security, Even If It's Rarely Stopped.” New York
Times, 11 Apr 2017. SIRS Issue Researcher https://sks-sirs-com.dcccd.idm.oclc.org.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017