AVIATION SECURITY

Aviation Security

Abstract

This research paper will briefly discuss the history, trends and challenges on how best to secure aircraft, passenger and airports from threats. The issue of security of aircraft and its cargo has been debated and discussed since the early era of commercial flight. A major shift in thought to aircraft and airport security here in America began with the horrific tragedies of Sept 11, 2001. Many countries such as Israel have been dealing with these issues for some time now. Topics discussed in this paper are current and future trends affecting our safety. Many areas covered are successful and unsuccessful trends leading up to and after September 11th.

Introduction

The aviation industry was devastated by the events of September 11, 2001. How did these acts occur? Who is responsible for security? Many of these questions spread through the United States pondered by all citizens. Why would anyone want to kill all those people? Terrorists do many things normal human beings would never consider. They feel no one is listening to them and this is the only way of gaining attention and having someone listen to their troubles. Many terrorist organizations are driven by religious beliefs and feel what they are doing is right. After doing research on many religions, the use of terror and destruction is explicitly forbidden. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and many other religions aspire towards peace not acts of destruction. Knowing these kinds of people are out in the world waiting for their one chance at attention, the aviation industry needs to be ready. Terrorists always attack the weakest points in any defence. It is everyone's job to ensure safety and security of America and the aviation industry.

Background

Although used interchangeably today, the word "hijacking" hasn't always applied to airplanes. In fact, the term originated the 1920s and 30s in the U.S. when gangsters were seizing trucks or other vehicles from America's streets. The first recorded skyjacking of an airplane took place on Feb. 21, 1931 at the city of Arequipa, Peru when a group of rebel soldiers in Peru forced two American pilots to fly them about and drop propaganda leaflets over Lima. The pilots refused and the rebels ended their seizure on March 2, without any damages to the plane.

The first case of skyjacking within the United States occurred on May 1, 1961, when a man forced a commercial airliner enroute from Miami to Key West, Fla., to detour to Cuba. It was the first of four flights diverted to Cuba that year.

The use of hi-jacking has not always been for extreme acts of violence. At the beginning of aviation, many air piracy incidents occurred for the freedom of individuals from one country to another. This type of hi-jacking occurred during the 1940's and 50's. Many people did not agree with Communism and fled their country. Many Americans condoned this behaviour thinking it was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, we are the example of our own misgivings. We believe some hi-jacking are alright if the ...