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Several recent leaks to the media about TSA shortcomings have called into question whether TSA is effective at doing its job, and to a larger extent whether the aviation industry is actually secure. The big question is: what should be done about TSA? The question is obviously much easier than the answer. Let’s address it… Continue Reading
The latest report about DHS red team personnel able to get prohibited items through screening checkpoints without being detected, an average of 95% of the time, is extraordinary. Even more extraordinary though is why the items were not being detected. According to the inspectors, the failures were “caused by human and technology-based failures,” John Roth,… Continue Reading
Several news stories have addressed concerns about lost and stolen airport ID badges. Before everyone goes nuts about this issue, particularly politicians and TSA, let’s realize a few facts about airport security badges. This isn’t like losing the key to your house with your address printed on it. First, the vast majority of missing badges… Continue Reading
Recently, information came to light about part of a program implemented and used by the TSA since 2007 as a way to identify potential terrorists and subject them to closer inspection. The program has been criticized as being based on flawed scientific principles, and because none of the passengers detained were subsequently arrested for terrorist activities.… Continue Reading
The recent intentional airspace penetration by a man in a gyrocopter and subsequent landing on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, raises questions about the airspace around Washington DC. I was recently quoted in a USAToday article, but there are a lot of altitudes and issues here so I thought I’d provide some clarification, along… Continue Reading
From the FAA: “The FAA is working with its aviation security partners in the DC area to investigate an incident involving an aircraft that landed on the west lawn of the Capitol this afternoon. The pilot was not in contact with FAA air traffic controllers and the FAA did not authorize him to enter restricted… Continue Reading
Sometimes you just have to read “Go Dog Go.” The other day I had a problem with my new iPad. I headed to the Apple Store for the solution at the Genius Bar. I almost always have positive experiences at the Genius bar and I had no reason to believe this day would be any… Continue Reading
Aviation employee screening is an initiative that is gaining a lot of momentum so it’s time to fully address it. Throughout the history of aviation security, employees have been directly responsible or assisted in the facilitation of numerous attacks. Many of these incidents are catalogued and explained in my textbook, Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and… Continue Reading
Can I trust my pilot? After 9/11, cockpit doors were reinforced to keep the bad people out. But what happens when they are already inside. The details of the Germanwings 9525 crash are still filtering out but from what appears to have happened, is that the co-pilot, due to mental issues or whatever, put the… Continue Reading
Although the article states that airport police are a “patchwork” that doesn’t report to the TSA, lets remember a few things. TSA does not report to the Department of Justice and although the air marshals and a few other TSA employees do have police powers they are inherently a security agency not a law enforcement… Continue Reading