This book addresses new technologies being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for screening airport passengers for concealed weapons and explosives. The FAA is supporting the development of promising new technologies that can reveal the presence not only of metal-based weapons as with current screening technologies, but also detect plastic explosives and other non-metallic threat materials and objects, and is concerned that these new technologies may not be appropriate for use in airports for other than technical reasons. This book presents discussion of the health, legal, and public acceptance issues that are likely to be raised regarding implementation of improvements in the current electromagnetic screening technologies, implementation of screening systems that detect traces of explosive materials on passengers, and implementation of systems that generate images of passengers beneath their clothes for analysis by human screeners.

This report assesses the operational performance of explosives-detection equipment and hardened unit-loading devices (HULDs) in airports and compares their operational performance to their laboratory performance, with a focus on improving aviation security.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001, there has been a plethora of legislation and acts resulting in security screening of airline passengers and their baggage to the deployment of newer and more updated security technologies, aimed at closing this alarming gap in security. This new book examines additional proposals and actions not only from Congress, but the FAA as well. Contents: Preface; Aviation Security Technologies and Procedures: Screening Passengers and Baggage; Selected Aviation Security Legislation in the Aftermath of the September 11 Attack; Vulnerabilities in, and Alternatives for, Pre-board Screening Security Operations; Terrorist Acts Demonstrate Urgent need to Improve Security at the Nations' Airports Operations; Weaknesses in Airport Security and Options for Assigning Screening Responsibilities; Vulnerabilities and Potential Improvements for the Air Cargo System; Transportation Security Administration Faces Immediate and Long-Term Challenges; Registered Traveller Program Policy and Implementation Issues; Index.

The response of the U.S. federal government to the events of September 11, 2001 has reflected the challenge of striking a balance between implementing security measures to deter terrorist attacks while at the same time limiting disruption to air commerce. Airport and Aviation Security: U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Age of Global Terrorism is a co

Examines the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) efforts to develop new equipment for detecting explosives and methods to improve aircraft survivability. Recommendations in this report will ensure that (1) FAA's process for approving new explosive detection equipment can provide the aviation community and the flying public with effective and reliable technology, and (2) FAA's research efforts are properly managed to meet the threats to aviation. Charts and tables.