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Airport security -- what works, and what does not?

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Jan 28th 2010 at 1:30PM

With so much talk about new explosive detection equipment and the upcoming full body scanners, we decided to look into some of the current technology in place at airports around the world. What works, and what does not?

Will the future of airport security involve everyone stripping down to their underpants? Or will technology evolve to the point where computers can detect terrorists from a distance?

Click here for our ten tips for getting through the security checkpoint!

Metal detector

The airport metal detector is a piece of equipment that works absolutely perfectly - for finding metal. It won't detect explosives, ceramic knives or anything else that is not metallic. And it isn't designed for that - its sole purpose is to detect metal objects.

Anyone who has left their belt on, or had some loose change will know how sensitive these things are.

Why they don't always work: Can only detect metal. Can't sense explosives, ceramic blades or liquids.

The x-ray machine

At the airport, baggage is checked at two places - at the security checkpoint, and at the checked bag drop-off. These machines are pretty good. But they have a fatal flaw - they can't detect anything without the presence of a human operator. And lets be honest - someone that has to sit in front of a monitor looking at bags move past them will never reach a 100% accuracy. Things will slip through the cracks.

Why they don't always work: The human element is the weak spot. Unable to "sniff" for explosives.

Passenger puffer machine

The "puffer machine" was supposed to be the ultimate in airport security. You step into the machine, it blows puffs of air on you, and "smells" for explosives. It all sounds like the perfect solution. These machines were in place at several airports on a trial basis before they were all removed due to "unforeseen technical problems".

Millions were invested in the devices, which are now probably collecting dust in a storage facility. High profile research labs are still working on better solutions, and there are several very promising technologies in the very early stages of development. Sadly, without some really serious government money, those machines won't be at your local airport any time soon.

Why they don't always work: Citing "technical difficulties", they are no longer in use at US airports.

Swab explosives detector

Anyone who has been pulled aside for a secondary search (the dreaded "SSSS" on your boarding pass" will have seen the screening expert "swab" their bag and place the sample inside an expensive looking machine. The machine sniffs for explosives, and can detect the smallest trace of stuff that can blow up a plane.

Why they don't always work: only passengers selected for secondary screening are pulled aside for a swab detection. Easy to get a false positive.

Full body imager

The full body imager (or whole body imager / millimeter wave scanner) is supposed to be the holy grail of airport security. After the Nigerian underpants bomber was pulled off his plane, these new machines popped up in the news and within days, the first ones were being ordered for European airports.

Tests have been conducted on the machines, and there is a very big chance that the underpants bomber would not have been caught had he passed through one. Then there is of course the issue of privacy. We all want to fly on a plane without any terrorists wearing bombs wrapped around their groin, but apparently we draw the line at letting security staff stare at our naked bodies on a TV screen. To make matters worse, we were promised that none of the US based machines could store or send our images, but CNN already discovered that was was a lie.

Why they don't always work: Only at select airports, only passengers pulled aside for secondary screening are asked to voluntarily go through the machine, possibly not 100% reliable.

Passenger no-fly lists

The super secret passenger no-fly lists collect data from several sources. It isn't necessarily filled with the names of the worst terror suspects in the world, and the list has been proven to be terribly inaccurate. Worst of all, those people that have a name that matches something on the list have had a hell of a time getting through airport security.

The Nigerian underpants bomber was on one list of terror suspects, but apparently was not considered dangerous enough to warrant adding to the no-fly list. At the same time, 8 year old kids are stopped because their name matches someone dangerous.

Why they don't always work: Too much data, but not enough ways to find the bad guys.

Pat-down

Pat-downs have been proven to be ineffective - and for one simple reason; fear of embarrassing travelers. The underpants bomber would have successfully passed a pat-down because screening staff don't do a comprehensive search. The only kind of search that will work, is the kind used in prisons.

You can't find explosives attached to someones private parts if you don't physically search that area. Is a full effective pat-down embarrassing? You bet it is. But it is a heck of a lot more effective than just waving a wand up and down your legs.

Why they don't work: You can't perform a full search, without performing an actual FULL search,

(Images courtesy of Flickr users Daquella Manera and jcortell - click images for direct source)

What strange things have been found on planes?

Filed under: Airlines, Airports

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

k6185 Jan 30th 2010 10:27AM

All these pieces of equipment are of limited reliability if the people who run themare not paying attention to their jobs. It is some what troubling to pass through security while the TSA agents are passing around some ones baby pictures. This was reported to supervisory personnel who said they would " Check It Out ". wonder if they ever did.

sieben13 Jan 30th 2010 10:56PM

Why not tell the TERRORIST what does and DOESN'T WORK

Carmine Jan 30th 2010 3:43PM

Why not use the Israeli system.. how many terrorists have be uncovered on their flights.. screw the privacy issues... they don't matter when you're a victim....and i really don't care at my age if anyone know's how big my thingy is... only the women in my life who know that i know how to use is are important to me, other than getting to where i'm going....lol

Falco64 Jan 30th 2010 5:53PM

I agree, I wouldn't have any problem with someone checking me if it meant the guys with the real bombs would be detected should they arrive. But what use would extra security measures such as proper pat downs be if you made exceptions for woman? I'm pretty sure the people we call Terrorist have female counterparts they conspire with.

It comes down to how much privacy are you willing to give up for yourself AND everyone else who flies commercially. My personal opinion is that if we have equipment available that imposes no health risk to the people being scanned, but allows a security agent to see anything suspicious on one's person, it should be used. Even if that means the agents see pseudo nude pictures of the people scanned. Just as long as the people having access to the intrusive photo data are held accountable for keeping the data private.

Look At This Jan 30th 2010 3:50PM

I don't care if someone looks at my package, but I'll be damned if someone took an intimate look at my wife or my teenage daughter. At least have a men's line and a woman's line if you use a full body scanner...

Grammar Police Jan 30th 2010 3:57PM

PONCHO. You're coming down on someone who made a spelling mistake, yet your statement is FULL of spelling and grammar mistakes. Athelete's foot..?? Didja know..?? Going thru secuirty..?? Un canny..?? You also capitalize the letter I in the English language...

mnm Jan 30th 2010 3:58PM

The imagers can't see inside the body, where weapons and explosives can be hidden, unless they use x-rays that are strong enough to penetrate deeply. Didn't we just hear mammography increases the cancer risk? - and that's only on a portion of the body. It's the illusion of security.

There is other technology that can identify people without violating them or harming their health, but it would make too much sense for the govt to implement.

bill Jan 30th 2010 4:25PM

the use of more cannines is far better detection with less human errors and less ivasive to the public your waiting in line and a cannine unit walks up and down the line the working dog will detect you if your carrying anything there trained to detect.
along with the normal screening we all have come acustomed too.
what about enternal body bombs that freaks me or bio hazard a tiny little vial airborn on a plane were all gone were never going to be 100% safe we all need to be more aware of our surroundings .....

Bob Jan 30th 2010 4:17PM

Puffer machines are still in use. Went through one at DFW on 1/23/10. Get the facts, man.

gposner29 Jan 30th 2010 4:26PM

Each state should send it's representatives to Israel to see how the pros do it.
Stop cocking around with blowers and imbeciles who have a 7th grade education and are just concerned with their paycheck. Observe and learn from Israel before another incident.

mike Jan 31st 2010 12:05AM

If you only knew what the TSA officers have to put up with. People like you make it hard to even care about the safety of others when people make statements like yours. Have you ever wondered why these people even take these positions? I can tell you, it's not the money, or the yearly testing to just keep the job. Pay increases are few and far between. Most took the job, just to be a part of the solution not just sit there and complain about terrorism.

howard Jan 30th 2010 4:36PM

Israeli airports are the safest in the world.....They just adopted an new program called UNIPASS.....it is powered by a company called On Track Innovations ( otiv).....soon all airports will be equipped with this technology, and will then be a lot safer......

FJW Jan 30th 2010 4:51PM

ALL THE TECHNOLOGY IS GREAT AND EXPENSIVE IF IT WORKS, BUT, I DON'T SEE ANY INDICATION TO THE PASSENGERS OF THE CONDITION OF THE PILOTS AND CREW. OR WHAT IS BEING STORED IN THE BAGGAGE AREA. ALSO, WHAT PROTECTION DO THE PASSENGERS HAVE THAT THE ILLEGAL DRUGS AND OTHER ITEMS ARE NOT BEING TRANSPORTED ON THE PLANE THAT NEVER GO THROUGH ANY SECURITY ? HELP.

gatlaw Jan 30th 2010 4:56PM

What do the Israelis do? We should simply copy their procedures. However, it is not fair to compare the world's security procedures to Israel's. It's a little like comparing NYC's subway system with Disney's Monorail. Disney's rail system works (or so it seems) without any of the problems seen in NYC, but when you compare the size and complexity of the two rail systems you see that NYC's works pretty darn well. It's the same with airport security. Most security schemes are there for show anyway, since someone bent on beating it will probably figure out how. Ever notice the "security" at the bridges and tunnels in NYC? They have a squad car sitting at the entrance with its lights flashing...but it's empty! Or there's a guy in a booth "watching" the cars enter! How is that going to prevent someone in a car, van, truck, motorcycle or whatever from entering the tunnel, stopping in the middle and detonating a bomb? Same with the subways. They say "report anything suspicious". Few do. I've seen sweaty, dirty Arabs carrying backpacks and looking like they're ready to attempt "martyrdom" on the subways. Are they carrying out an attack? Are they simply conducting a dry run? Or are they simply sweating in one of the many non-airconditioned cars in service? Should I report every single suspicious thing I see to the cops? I think they'd arrest me for bothering them. Bottom line is, if "they" want to hurt us, they can! All the security in place cannot stop a nut intent on killing himself and as many innocents as possible. Government security listens for conspiracies, they cannot hear the crazies. There are going to be terrorist attacks in the future and some of us are going to die. There is really nothing anyone can do to eradicate the problem unless the source is eradicated and that can never happen.

mr3006 Jan 30th 2010 5:03PM

TSA is a joke. They are an organized gang of thieves. We traveled from Dulles airport in Virginia to Florida, non stop. We put 4 bags into the security section, when we got to Florida, 3 came off. The one bag with all my wife's expensive clothes for our trip was gone. Over $1,000.00 of dresses, shoes, bathing suits, makeup... gone. We went on the cruise and three months later we got someone elses red bag with a few of her clothes back. Two TSA tags were in the bag but there are no ID numbers to ID the screener. Thieves. Scumbags. They looked through her bag, saw what they liked, stole her things and since there was so much to be taken, more than one person had to be involved.

They steal, lie and act like they are actually professional police when in fact they are a bunch of rental cops, a disgrace to any uniform. Scum of the earth. You want security, watch the person next to you, talk to them if they will talk. It isn't grandma who is dangerous. Arab looking men 18-45 years old have my attention and I don't care who see's me checking them out. I'm not looking for a date either. If everyone got real about security, we would have some faith but as it is now, I'm my best security. TSA.... please... a bunch of idiots!

Jean Jan 30th 2010 5:41PM

Darn right about the TSA thieves. Last May, I checked a bag on a flight to NY and it went to the wrong airport. The airline said they'd deliver the bag the next morning. I got the bag back 36 hours later (no knock on the door; they dropped it off on my front porch and ran), and someone stole my GPS, three power adapters and my Swiss Army knife out of the bag. The airline said they weren't responsible for electronic/electrical devices in checked luggage, and they only reimbursed me $30. I'll never check anything again. Be sure to look at the long list of items the airlines AREN'T responsible for before you check anything.

TIM Jan 30th 2010 6:03PM

Well mr3006 I work for TSA. FYI when your bags are checked under the plane TSA only Inspects the bag, airline personnel are the last pepole who handles your bag before it loaded on the plane. If there is any stealing going on ask the $5.50 an hour baggage handler. We are people like you have a family, pay bills,and have feelings also. Do we have the safest and secure security? Well we do the best we can with the tools we are given. I screen each and every passanger as if they were my own family on that flight to assure that nothing gets on that plane.Yes there are a few that are employed that only thinks of it as a paycheck. Remember who we work for its not like we make rules up as we go. The government tells us who what when where and why. While we are constantly under a microscope with the public passangers feel we are an annoyance. Let me ask you this is worth a few moments of your time waiting in a security line then the alternitive? Do you really think that we enjoy looking through your bags every time something was not taken out or screening you because of a cell phone was left in your pocket? I give the upmost respect for you, all we as in return is maybe a thank you if we even given that.