The TSA and Airline Transportation Safety
Traveling through Detroit's Wayne County Airport a few months ago I tripped the metal detector and consequently had to be searched for illegal weaponry. What the TSA agent concluded tripped the metal detector was the wrapper from the gum in my pocket. (I've learned to empty my pockets of coin, keys, glasses, and other metal objects before entering the tunnel of doom.) He smugly remarked, "Don't you feel safe that we caught this?" alluding to the precision of their equipment and his search. I quickly answered no.
It seems that the TSA needs a bit more practice, other than catching gum wrappers and water bottles.
In one test, TSA inspectors hid the components of a fake bomb in carry-on luggage that also contained a bottle of water. Passengers are prohibited from carrying containers holding more than three ounces of liquids, gels or aerosols through airport checkpoints.
The screeners at Albany International confiscated the water bottle but missed the bomb. In all, the inspectors slipped four banned items through the main checkpoint during the test, sources said.
What's particularly galling is the attitude of the TSA.
Ann Davis, a TSA spokeswoman, declined to discuss the circumstances of the covert test at Albany International.
"We don't discuss the results because they tend to paint an inaccurate picture of the competency of our work force," she said. "The tests are designed to be incredibly difficult and TSA does anticipate a fair level of failure."
Screeners who flunk the test routinely receive immediate training on the mistakes to improve their detection skills, according to officials familiar with the spot checks.
Last October, the Star-Ledger newspaper of Newark, citing unnamed federal security officials, reported screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport flunked 20 of 22 tests, including failing to detect bombs and guns in luggage at checkpoints.
The TSA responded to the report by launching an internal investigation in which federal employees were interrogated about whether they had leaked the results, the newspaper said.
My gosh, the gum wrapper set off the alert. What must a zipper on the carry-on do to the poor security system?
:-0
Posted by: True_liberal | July 14, 2007 at 11:36 AM