TSA AT AIRPORT LOCATIONS

TSA At Airport Locations

Abstract

TSA (The Transportation Security Administration) is the concerned authority of the commercial aviation, and it is responsible for all the security checks on the airport. In this research paper, various aspects of TSA are discussed that is, the procedures adopted to maintain the security of the airport and passengers. Moreover, how these methods are processed, and the technologies used to ensure security. In addition to that, the research paper also includes the reasons for modifications of the security procedures. Also, the procedures for assessing the security personnel are discussed to ensure that they are capable to ensure the security of the airport and that no individual, who has been processed by the security check, contains any prohibited item that is harmful while travelling on the aircraft.

TSA At Airport Locations

Introduction

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the screening of passengers at checkpoints on the airport to ensure that passengers are not carrying any item or explosives, which is harmful and dangerous by the Transportation Security Officers (TSO). Several modifications have been done for the screening procedures at checkpoints in recent years (Wald, 2004).

The system of screening consists of three essential elements: TSOs and their items carried along with them, the use of technology during the process of screening and the processes TSOs have to follow to conduct screening. These elements assist in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of checkpoints (Seidenstat, 2004). TSOs are responsible to screen all passengers before they proceed to the departure gates. Their baggages are also screened in the same manner. TSAs have several positions based on the level of responsibilities and each one of them directly supervise functions of passengers' screening (Levine, 2003).

Discussion

The screening method is the way through which the passengers are required to pass. TSA has the authority to inspect every person and property to deter the carriage of any prohibited or dangerous item on board or into a sterile area. TSA has to screen every individual to ensure that the passenger is not carrying any prohibited item. The screening functions mentioned below, are also shown in Figure 1(Hirshberg et al., 2003):

X-ray screening of the luggage of passengers,

the metal detector for the screening of individuals,

hand-wand or pat-down screening, and

physical research by the officers to screen the property and trace detection for explosives.

Usually, travelers are required to pass their carry-on items through the X-ray screening machine and walk-through the metal detector after placing their luggage on the machines. However, if any luggage alarms the X-ray machine, or the metal detector is alarmed when the person pass-by, then the respected passenger is called and screened by hand-wand or pat-down and their items are screened for any explosives or physically searched (Hirshberg et al., 2003).

Source : Hirshberg, C. et al. (2003), Are airliners flying targets? Popular Science.

As shown is the figure, ETD (Explosive Trace Detection) detects fumes and explosives material. A human operator collects the samples by rubbing swabs along the interior and exterior of ...