Building a World-Class system for aviation seCurity - US Travel ...

Executive SummaryEach day in the United States, roughly two million airtravelers are advised to arrive upwards of two hoursbefore a flight in order to be processed through aone-size-fits-all security screening system. Each traveler mustpresent their identification for verification, take off any coats,remove their shoes, pull out their cell phone, unpack their laptop,unhook their belt, unsnap their watch, place their liquidsin a clear plastic bag, and place all of their personal effects ona conveyer belt. Then, every man, woman and child goes barefootthrough a screening device and then tries to reassembletheir belongings before the crush of passengers further backsup the screening line.Has the system worked? By one measure—yes. There havebeen no successful terrorist attacks against an American aircraftsince the horrible events of September 11, 2001. If terroristattacks are the only form of judgment, the post-9/11 securityscreening system has succeeded to date. The Departmentof Homeland Security (DHS), its Transportation SecurityAdministration (TSA), and the American public with its new“take charge” attitude all deserve credit and our appreciation.Is today’s security screening system the most cost effectiveand efficient that the United States can possibly produce?No. The country that put a man on the moon, invented theInternet and creates daily innovations in manufacturing canand must do better.Staggering Economic Consequencesof the Current Security SystemThe current aviation security system is discouraging Americansfrom flying and contributing to a decline in productivityamong those who choose to fly. According to a 2010 surveyconducted by Consensus Research, American travelers wouldtake an additional two to three flights per year if the hassles insecurity screening system were eliminated. These additionalflights would add nearly $85 billion in consumer spendingand 900,000 jobs to the American economy. 1According to the same research, a large majority of Americansconsider today’s security screening system to be “inconsistent,”“stressful” and “embarrassing.” The President of the UnitedStates acknowledged the challenges with today’s system whenhe joked in the 2011 State of the Union address that we shouldsupport high-speed rail as an alternative to flying because, “itwill be faster than flying—without the pat-down.” 2In 1999, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote inthe landmark case Saenz vs. Roe that the Constitution protectsthe right to travel freely within the United States and to betreated as a welcome visitor rather than a hostile stranger. 3 In1958, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, in holdingthat the federal government could not restrict the right totravel without due process, wrote:“Freedom of movement across frontiers in either direction,and inside frontiers as well, was a part of our heritage. Travelabroad, like travel within the country…may be as close to theheart of the individual as the choice of what he eats, or wears, orreads. Freedom of movement is basic in our scheme of values.” 4These powerful words, combined with the clear consequencesof today’s security screening system, highlight theneed for more efficiency and cost effectiveness. Aviationsecurity is about much more than providing for the safetyof the traveling public—it is about protecting the Americanway of life.When combining the staggering economic consequences ofthe current system with the widely held views of the travelingpublic—and with the American way of life hanging in thebalance—the picture becomes clear: we can, and must, builda new traveler-focused system for aviation security.A Better System EliminatesOne-Size-Fits-All ApproachA better aviation security screening system must feature severalcharacteristics, including:■■ Effective methods of deterring and interdicting terroristand criminal actors;■■ Tailored security based upon risk assessment;■■ Predictability for the traveling public; and■■ Reasonable efficiency and cost-effective use of resources.Building such a system will require the active participationof, and possible sacrifices by:■■ Airlines;■■ Airports;■■ The broader travel industry;■■ The traveling public;■■ Federal agencies; and■■ Congress.Congress Must Lead the Wayto Better Aviation SecurityIn November 2010, new enhanced “pat down” techniques andadvanced “full-body scanning” equipment sparked a mediaA Better Way: Building a World-Class System for Aviation Security 1