USA Today
Posted: 2008-03-31 16:34:34
The Transportation Security Administration hopes to create a kinder, gentler screening process and will test it soon at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Other U.S. airports could see it later this year.
"This is the first significant change to the checkpoint since the 1970s," TSA chief Kip Hawley said.
The checkpoint to be tested in May at one terminal in Baltimore is based on a simple premise: serenity adds security. Mauve lights glow softly, soothing music hums, and smiling employees offer quiet greetings and assistance.
"A chaotic, noisy, congested checkpoint is a security nightmare. Chaos gives camouflage," Hawley said. "A chaotic environment puts subtle pressure on (screeners) to rush the job."
Hawley has sought to "calm the passenger" as he has focused the TSA on intercepting terrorists before they get to checkpoints, where they could slip plastic explosives past X-ray machines. About 1,200 screeners at 70 large airports specialize in passenger observation and pick out people who appear suspicious for closer questioning or pat-downs.
The checkpoint to be tested in May at one terminal in Baltimore is based on a simple premise: serenity adds security. Mauve lights glow softly, soothing music hums, and smiling employees offer quiet greetings and assistance.
"A chaotic, noisy, congested checkpoint is a security nightmare. Chaos gives camouflage," Hawley said. "A chaotic environment puts subtle pressure on (screeners) to rush the job."
Hawley has sought to "calm the passenger" as he has focused the TSA on intercepting terrorists before they get to checkpoints, where they could slip plastic explosives past X-ray machines. About 1,200 screeners at 70 large airports specialize in passenger observation and pick out people who appear suspicious for closer questioning or pat-downs.
That task is easier if passengers are relaxed. "Calm allows things to stand out more," Hawley said. "It creates a better environment to observe hostile intent."
TSA planners have been tinkering for months in a warehouse at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, testing music, lighting and displays. "You can actually influence some behavior subliminally through color," said Catherine Lillie, head of the checkpoint-testing team.
The TSA test in Baltimore will refine the strategies, which could be exported to other airports.
The test will include a machine that uses harmless radio waves to scan passengers under their clothes for hidden weapons. Passengers will be selected randomly for the scanning after they go through a metal detector. Screeners will view images of passengers' bodies in a remote room and delete them.
Charles Chambers, head of security for the Airports Council International, said the new checkpoint could speed security lines and reduce crowds that may invite a terrorist strike.
"Some airports do have concerns about large groups of people," Chambers said. "Anything you can do to disperse people quicker is a good thing."
TSA planners have been tinkering for months in a warehouse at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, testing music, lighting and displays. "You can actually influence some behavior subliminally through color," said Catherine Lillie, head of the checkpoint-testing team.
The TSA test in Baltimore will refine the strategies, which could be exported to other airports.
The test will include a machine that uses harmless radio waves to scan passengers under their clothes for hidden weapons. Passengers will be selected randomly for the scanning after they go through a metal detector. Screeners will view images of passengers' bodies in a remote room and delete them.
Charles Chambers, head of security for the Airports Council International, said the new checkpoint could speed security lines and reduce crowds that may invite a terrorist strike.
"Some airports do have concerns about large groups of people," Chambers said. "Anything you can do to disperse people quicker is a good thing."
After enduring security checkpoints this weekend, I'm the first to say I'm all for anything the TSA can do to 'disperse people quicker' during the security screening. But one thing concerns me: the rules and regulations that apply to us passengers apparently do not apply to flight crews. At the security checkpoint Friday morning, the baggage screeners were more concerned with my Wal-Mart portable DVD player and Diva Stacy's two ounce bottle of foundation then they were the carry-on baggage that a flight attendant had. She had a liter bottle of water that made it through the checkpoint - which, by my calculations, was about 30 ounces more than the 3 ounces of liquid that is allowed. As her water bottle made it through, I saw three other passengers have their smaller water bottles thrown away. Yet the screeners were more worried that my cheap DVD player might be some electronic device used to detonate a bomb and that Diva Stacy's make-up contained liquid explosives disguised as foundation. Yet the flight attendant could have carried a liter of nitro glycerin that could blow up the plane.
And another thing - we sure didn't encounter any smiling TSA employees who offered assistance and quiet greetings; they were as rude and robotic as could be.
Like I said, I'm all for the TSA doing anything they can to make us safer when we fly and to make us not feel like terrorists, but I think we all need to play by the same rules.
1 comment:
Ah, they will get it right one day. Took a 2"x1/2" replica of a pistol from my grand son. When the other boy turned back and said, I have one and you did not take it, they took it! Fly seldom anymore. And I am glad. Jack
Post a Comment