[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Aviation Security
The US government should move the aviation security function from the FAA to the Defense Dept. to effectively address the terrorist threat. In addition, it should provide funds to support the development of a cheap explosives detection system and the implementation of a positive passenger bag match system. In addition, it should bring level of security in domestic airports up to par with international airports.( FINGER, Seymour M. (2002))
Is the U.S. aviation system taking the appropriate steps to secure flights and airports against new terrorist threats at home and abroad? Since August, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has twice ordered tightened security procedures at all U.S. airports, not in response to specific threats but to a more perilous overall world picture. Before the year is out, the FAA may well mandate still tighter security, and make all such provisions permanent. But even these measures may not be enough to protect commercial airlines from terrorist attacks. (FINGER, Seymour M. (2002))
Since 1985, more than 1,000 passengers and crew have died because terrorists penetrated security and smuggled a bomb on board a civilian airliner. Carriers such as Pan Am, TWA, UTA (a French airline), and Avianca have had airplanes blown from the sky by terrorist bombs. Traditionally, airline security has been increased in response to specific threats. That approach, however, is flawed. Despite conventional wisdom, intelligence agencies rarely get information that permits a policy maker or security official to take effective, preventive action. Terrorist attacks against aviation targets most notably the bombings of Pan Am 103 and UTA 772 have typically occurred without advance warning. (Despite assertions to the contrary, there was no advance warning for Pan Am 103, although an unrelated threat happened to coincide with the bombing of that flight.) Accurately predicting the weather in Oklahoma next year is far easier than accurately predicting whether there will be a terrorist attack in Oklahoma City. (FINGER, Seymour M. (2002)....
