Security system at the United States airports Research Paper

Security system at the United States airports - Research Paper Example The FAA was mandated with the responsibility of setting the least security requirements needed to govern the airport as well as the air carriers. In addition to this, the FAA has the power to ensure the standards set are met through issuing of fine, undertaking inspections, and revoking operating certificates. The responsibilities undertaken by the air carriers were preventing unauthorized entry to the plane, screening of baggage, passengers and cargo and training of the crewmembers on emergency tactics and procedures. The airports on their part had the responsibility of ensuring ample security is provided within the airport premises by stationing of law enforcement officers. The congress is also mandated with the responsibility of legislating aviation security law and undertakes partial implementation of the same laws (Johnstone & National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, 2006, p. 24). In the past, the security policies in United States and the world at large have mainly been established after a public’s reactions to different incidents of insecurity. A good example is the use of air marshals in the 1960s by airlines due to the numerous hijacking that were taking place at that time. It was soon after, that the U.S. government established laws to tackle the air piracy. Transportation security One of the main aspects that surround the national security of United States is the transportation process from and to the United States. In addition to this transportation within the borders of the nation is also part and parcel of the national security aspects. The September 11, attacks not only indicated the weaknesses of United states air port security systems but also the role that the air transport plays in the national security of America. Privatization of airport security is said to have raised a debate in the public domain. The approach used by United States in tackling the issue of airport security is much more different as compared to its European allies. In the European nations, the security inspection is normally undertaken by private contractors, while in America government control on airport operations has become visible especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The mare fact that terrorists had access to the airport facilities and airlines and thus using the airlines as their weapons of mass destruction only goes on to indicate the drastic measures needed to tackle the weaknesses of our airport security systems. According to Verkuil, this airport security system has incorporated private employees who are working on the behalf of the airlines and over seen by the Federal Aviation Administration. Previously, the airlines perceived and regarded the security function as one of the item of cost control and passed on its quality measures downwards. This is one of the reasons that makes the security systems fail in their critical purposes (Verkuil, 2007, p. 57 & 58). The largest aviation system of security was implemented in 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These terrorist attacks were not only a wakeup call to the American government but also to the world as well. The public debate still lingers on whether the government could have taken extra steps to prevent the terrorist att