The Impact on Aviation Security and Commercial Air Travelpost 9/11
The Impact on Aviation Security and Commercial Air Travel Post 9/11 The events of September 11, 2001 forever changed air travel security measures. The level of security and the pre-screening for commercial flights was overwhelmingly lacking and was quite frankly, a disaster waiting to happen. The lessons the aviation industry learned because of the 9/11 attacks, propelled the nation into raising the standards of security at all airports in the United States, which was long overdue. As a result, we currently have in place a significantly safer, although not foolproof, air travel security system. Great strides have been taken to stay a step-ahead of those whose aim is to invoke fear in the flying public. These efforts seek to prevent mass destruction with an aircraft-turned-missile ever again. Our country’s airport and airline security protocols pre-9/11 provided passengers with a false sense of protection. Passengers walked through metal detectors and their bags were subjected to x-ray screening since the 1960’s. Individuals who were not ticketed passengers were allowed to proceed through security as well, accompany friends and family members to the departure gate and watch the plane depart. Before the terrorist attacks the actual security access areas of our airports were not, truly “secure”. The access control of the airports was not as protected as the government had intended them to be. For example, Gerald Dillingham, Director of Civil Aviation Issues, reported to the National Commission on Terrorists Attacks upon the United States: "In May 2000, Department of Transportation Inspector General agents used fictitious law enforcement badges and credentials to gain access to secure areas, bypass security checkpoints at two airports, and walk unescorted to aircraft departure gates. These agents could have been carrying threats to the aircraft or its passengers. With their fake credentials, the agents were able to access secure areas 70% of the