Wednesday, October 17, 2001

Airport security measures not enough
Bu Julie Ann Matonis
Skiff Staff

It’s been almost a month since four planes crashed into the Pentagon, World Trade Center towers and a field in rural Pennsylvania. The airlines are still trying to recover, in terms of both economics and consumer confidence. The government and airlines are working to convince the American public that it is safe to fly.

Despite attempts to impose greater security restrictions, not enough is being done at the nation’s airports. A lesson from Sept. 11 is that we are not invincible. A false sense of security blinded many of us, and now is the time for our eyes to remain wide open.

New Federal Aviation Administration restrictions released this week do not increase security levels beyond what should have been done previously. One “tip” from the FAA suggests passengers remove metal objects before they go through security checkpoints. Wasn’t that standard a month ago? A list of banned items in airplane cabins includes baseball bats, golf clubs and pool cues. Weren’t these items too cumbersome for overhead bins anyway?

Under new rules, passengers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item like a purse or briefcase. Previously there were no government restrictions, even though airlines attempted to limit the size and amount of luggage allowed in cabins.

The presence of the National Guard in airports, recently activated in most states, provides extra support that should be used to screen all carry-on luggage. Two New York Daily News reporters were able to get by security checkpoints at 10 major airports with knives and razor blades last week. The airports included Boston’s Logan Airport and Newark Airport in New Jersey, places where hijacked flights originated.
Obviously even common items can be turned into weapons, but luggage carried on planes should be given the utmost scrutiny.

Federal law also limits security effectiveness. Many workers, from baggage handlers to caterers, have access to planes. However, not everyone is reviewed in the same manner. Airport employees who work in secure areas and were hired after Sept. 23, 2000 are required to be fingerprinted as part of criminal background checks.

mployees hired before that date are not subject to fingerprinting, which hinders attempts to screen all employees against FBI databases. Does that scare anyone?

During the Persian Gulf War, the FAA stopped curbside check-in at airports. Now the FAA says airports can resume the service if special security measures are in place. A lack of curbside service is one less worry for security officials who could give their attention to more important matters.

Security should far outweigh convenience. Flying is still a convenience and luxury, even if passengers have to walk to the ticket counter to check in luggage. Arriving at destinations safely is the ultimate concern.

A federal task force on airplane security recommends several new approaches for the airlines, including requiring flight attendants be taught self-defense and non-lethal weapons courses and cockpit doors be redesigned and strengthened. Those measures are important safeguards, but increased safeguards need to be put in place on the ground. Once a plane is in the air, there is little grounded security personnel can do to assist flight crews. Greater security should be required before passengers are allowed to board airplanes.

We should not be worried about flying the friendly skies. We should be worried about flying the safe skies. That safety begins before takeoff when we arrive at the airport. It is difficult to trust anyone with that job right now.

Julie Ann Matonis is a junior broadcast journalism major from San Antonio.
She can be contacted at (j.a.matonis@student.tcu.edu).