$355 Million Funding for Airport Security Projects
On October 1, 2009 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced more than $355 million in funding for more than a dozen airport security projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Inline baggage handling systems eliminate the need for passengers to walk checked baggage to a screening location and wait before proceeding to the security checkpoint, incorporate enhanced explosive detection technology to provide on-screen viewing capabilities for TSA officers conducting baggage screenings and reduce the number of re-scans and physical bag searches. Secretary Napolitano announced approximately $254 million in ARRA funds for inline baggage handling systems at the following six airports:
| Airport | Funding |
| Washington Dulles International Airport | $154 million |
| Mineta San Jose International Airport | $20.9 million |
| San Antonio International Airport | $14.4 million |
| Portland (Maine) International Jetport | $9.2 million |
| Port Columbus International Airport | $35.2 million |
| Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | $20 million |
In addition, Secretary Napolitano announced approximately $38 million in ARRA funds to support new and enhanced closed circuit television (CCTV) systems to enhance surveillance capabilities at the following six airport:
| Airport | Funding |
| Chicago Midway International Airport | $2.7 million |
| Little Rock National Airport/Adams Field | $5.9 million |
| Kansas City International Airport | $9.4 million |
| Omaha Eppley Airfield Airport | $3.6 million |
| Washington Dulles International Airport | $8.1 million |
| Tampa International Airport | $8.1 million |
Secretary Napolitano also announced approximately $37 million in ARRA funds for the purchase and installation of multiple additional checkpoint technologies—including $15 million for Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) units, which detect traces of explosives; and $22 million for Bottled Liquid Scanners (BLS), a technology that screens medically necessary liquids such as infant formula and liquid medications to ensure they do not contain a threat.
More than $25 million will fund the purchase and deployment of approximately 150 backscatter advanced imaging units to airports across the nation—designed to bolster security by quickly screening passengers for concealed threats of all kinds without physical contact. This deployment follows a successful pilot phase, during which 46 imaging technology units were deployed at 23 airports and passengers opted to use imaging technology for primary screening 99 percent of the time.
In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated more than 50 percent of its ARRA funds to date—more than $1.5 billion.
ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA). Of the $1 billion allocated to TSA for aviation security projects, $700 million was dedicated to screening checked baggage and $300 million was allocated for checkpoint explosives detection technology and closed circuit television systems.
Airport Security Training Inadequate
The panel of homeland security analysts has come to conclusion that airport security training received by baggage screeners, flight attendants and federal flight deck officers is not adequate. Training for airport security professionals has come under increased scrutiny after a leak of a classified TSA report revealing that screeners at Los Angeles and Chicago O'Hare airports had failed to detect more than 60 percent of potential bomb parts hidden in luggage during tests.
The airport personnel lack elementary skills in dealing with IED, identity theft and emergency situations such as attempts to hijack the plane.
The flight attendants are supposed to be in the every passenger aircraft flying over US and they must know how to protect themselves, passengers and the aircraft.
The TSA failed to provide an infrastructure for security training for flight attendants, costly mistake that can be paid in lives. The same problem exists for federal flight deck officers. Their skills of unarmed combat and weapons training are inadequate to to defend the plane against hijackers' attack. Baggage screeners are the least qualified workforce and because they are always under stuffed, they often receive insufficient training.
The people at the frontline of the airport security take on themselves responsibility to work in highly demanding environment, often at the expense of their personal lives, if their sacrifice is not awarded properly, their morale and performance suffer.
Airport Security Market Scope
Monte R. Belger of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration notes "The goal of aviation security is to prevent harm to aircraft, passengers, and crew, as well as support national security and counter-terrorism policy."
Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.
Large numbers of people pass through airports. Such gatherings present a target for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a small area. Similarly, the high concentration of people on large airliners, the potential high lethality rate of attacks on aircraft, and the ability to use a hijacked airplane as a lethal weapon provide an alluring target for terrorism.
Airport security provides defense by attempting to stop would-be attackers from bringing weapons or bombs into the airport. If they can succeed in this, then the chances of these devices getting on to aircraft are greatly reduced. As such, airport security serves two purposes: To protect the airport from attacks and crime and to protect the aircraft from attack.