TSA Screening Relaxed for Seniors and Children

A reminder that the TSA recently relaxed security screening for seniors over 75 and children aged 12 and under. The new policies allow children, that are 12 years or younger, to go through airport security without taking off their shoes and to minimize the need for pat-downs, children are now allowed to go through metal detectors and body scanners several times to clear any alarms. Screening changes for passengers who are 75 years or older are similar to the screening process for children. Elderly people will also be able to go through airport security without removing their shoes or a light jacket and will be able to go through the metal detector and body scanners several times to clear any alarms. The TSA has also started a new program to help frequent travelers move through security checkpoints faster. The program is called 'TSA Pre' and is available in more than 30 US airports to frequent passengers of a limited number of airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines. Travelers who enroll in this program: "Do not need to take off their shoes and belts while going through security; Can keep their computers inside their bags; Can go through security without taking off a light jacket."

Another Wake-up Call for the TSA?

The terrorist attack at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport yesterday, which killed 35 people and injured over 100 took place in the airports arrival hall, or often known as the “land side”. This is an open space for anyone to enter without having to go through any security checkpoints.

This vulnerability in airport security has been long recognized by both security officials and terrorists. "Every airport in the world, including every airport in the United States, has virtually no security until you get to the security checkpoint," said Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant and former White House counter-terrorism official.

Passenger and baggage screening typically take place before entering the “airside” of the airport. For international arriving passengers, baggage pick-up normally occurs airside up until the exit from customs to the arrival hall. However, for domestic passengers, baggage pick-up can often occur landside, which adds a level of threat from terrorists who may have concealed weapons in their checked luggage. At Domodedovo Airport, the space between baggage pick-up and the public arrival area is very small and was vulnerable to attack. This is a problem worldwide. In fact, almost all violent criminal or terrorist attacks at airports over the past 20 years have occurred landside.

This is an issue that will not be easy to deal with because of the large number of people at land side that include those meeting travelers, service providers and friends and family of departing passengers. There is surveillance but no screening. Will land side screening become the next area for the TSA to pinpoint?

U.S. Airports Getting Body Scanners

Boston Logan received its first scanner this week and will get two more next week. All will be installed in the same terminal.

Los Angeles, Charlotte and Chicago O'Hare are also getting the scanners. Eleven airports in the U.S. will begin using the scanners during the next two years. The TSA bought 150 scanners last year and will take delivery of 300 more this year and 500 next year.

The scanners are 9 feet long and 6½ feet wide, much larger than metal detectors. They are much larger and slower than the metal detectors now in use and some airport officials are concerned. They have to be monitored very closely because they can slow down lines very quickly.

About half of nearly 40 airports that answered a survey last month by the Airports Council International said their security checkpoints are too small to handle the machines. Metal detectors will still be available and passengers who want to avoid scanners can opt to go through a metal detector and be hand-searched by a screener.

Random Screenings at Airport Gates to Resume

The Transportation Security Administration announced on Wednesday that they are going to be doing more random gate checks at airports from now on. They actually started doing them a few months ago.

The Spokeswoman for TSA, Laura Uselding said "this is not because of any specific threat", but additional measures to help prevent "weapons or other contraband from being passed from an employee to passenger before boarding". "Gate screening is particularly effective at addressing insider threats and serves as a random and unpredictable security layer that, like all TSA's security measures, was developed using a risk-based approach," Uselding said.

The TSA sent letters out to airports last week informing them of the changes.