AVIATION SECURITY BLOG
Welcome to the aviation security blog. It is published by Jeff Price, lead-author of Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats.
Obama picks Harding to head TSA
Posted on March 9th, 2010 by leadingedgestrategies
In the aftermath of the attempt to get Erroll Southers confirmed President Obama has finally selected another person to head the TSA, Robert Harding.
I must admit, I do now know very much about Mr. Harding nor does anyone else in the aviation community.
The unfortunate fact is that we’ve NEVER had anyone from inside the aviation industry run TSA.
The good news about Harding that I can see on it’s face, is that he comes from a strong intelligence background. That’s a key component in ANY aviation security system, and in any security system period.
Filed under: Current Affairs | No Comments »
Another threat, another box
Posted on March 6th, 2010 by leadingedgestrategies
The problem with new threats to aviation is that every time there is another threat, we get a new box at the checkpoint. At some point, we’re going to run out of space before we run out of threats.
While many in the industry, particularly TSA Federal Security Directors (FSD), are excited about the deployment of the whole body imagers, there are just as many people who are trying to figure out where to put them — they are called Airport Security Coordinators (ASC).
The WBI’s are about 3x as large as a walk-thru metal detector and take about 10x as long to process a passenger. There are two issues here. First, space. Second, time.
Filed under: Current Affairs, Introduction to Screening, Passenger and Baggage Screening | No Comments »
Suicide by Small Plane
Posted on February 19th, 2010 by leadingedgestrategies
We’re heard the term before – suicide-by-cop. This is where someone threatens the police with a gun to get the police to kill the individual. On February 18, we witnessed suicide-by-small-plane. We did not witness a terrorist attack. We barely witnessed an attack on a government building. Had Stack intended on causing mass casualties, he certainly did not pick an effective tool for the job.
What does this say about general aviation security? Should we be concerned? Want the solution? Read on.
Filed under: Crime and Terrorism, Current Affairs, General Aviation Aircraft Operator Security, General Aviation Airport Security | 2 Comments »
Plane crashes into office building
Posted on February 18th, 2010 by leadingedgestrategies
The word is just coming out now about an airplane that crashed into an office building in Austin, TX.
Already the reporting is all over the place about the intentions of the pilot, how the plane was flying (”full throttle” by one account, but how does someone on the ground know the throttle settings of an plane?). Just like the Cory Liddle crash into an apartment in Manhattan, there is a ton of speculation going on.
General aviation security has been an issue for many years, with arguments on both sides about whether more security is needed. I’m sure this will also re-energize the Large Aircraft Security Program discussion.
First, understand that this has happened before. In 1994, a man stole a small Cessna aircraft and flew it into the White House. In 2002, a 16-year-old stole a Cessna 172 and flew it into the Bank of America building.
Filed under: Crime and Terrorism, Current Affairs | No Comments »
Jihadists continue to look for aviation security weaknesses
Posted on February 18th, 2010 by leadingedgestrategies
According to a CBS news report Jihadists continue to attempt to exploit gaps in aviation security. One website invites members to post methods of circumventing aviation security and how to bypass screening, while others ask about the capabilities of screening detection equipment.
On one site a visitor asks a question involving the whole body imagers: “Can I refuse [to pass through] for religious reasons?” Ironically (or not), this comes on the heels of a Muslim Fatwa (religious order) that called upon the faithful to not go through body scanners because the scholars said the machines violate Islamic rules on nudity. Click here for more information.
Also found on a website is a TSA document discussing the rules for searching passengers.
Combine this with the Christmas bombing attempt and what all this goes to show is that aviation remains a target for terrorists. Aviation provides media coverage, scares the public, draws attention to the Jihadists cause, allows them to better recruit and damages the nation’s economy — everything terrorism desires can be achieved when you attack aviation.
Semper Vigilantes (Always Vigilant).
Filed under: Christmas Day Bomber, Crime and Terrorism, Current Affairs | No Comments »