The U.S. Government has just announced that additional security measures must be implemented for all flights entering the U.S. from foreign destinations.  According to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials, these additional measures will include security interviews conducted by an airline employee during the checkin process.  However, is this just another case of a government agency reinventing the wheel?

Starting in the mid 1980’s Trans World Airlines (TWA), my former employer, used this tactic quite successfully to thwart potential hijackers or other terrorists from boarding our aircraft at foreign departure stations.  From the 1960’s on, TWA had been the target of numerous terrorists, and had several flights hijacked.  We knew this had to stop.  So the airline contracted with an international security firm which followed the Israeli aviation security procedures model.

Security personnel, frequently young women, engaged the passengers in a conversation prior to their checking in for the flight at the ticket counter.  It might go something like this: “Where are you traveling today?”  “How long do you plan to stay?”  “Were you here on vacation?”  “Did you enjoy your stay?”   While this pleasant dialog is occurring, the highly trained screener is looking for signs of unease or evasion on the part of the subject.  Every passenger goes through this process.  If something seems amiss, the passenger is subjected to a more thorough screening.  The Israelis have been very successful in using this method.  The process moves rapidly and the frustrating long lines which are frequently experienced when dealing with the TSA are avoided, with no loss in security.

In my opinion, one of the worst features of the Department of Homeland Security, created by the Bush Administration after 9/11, was the creation of the TSA.  Although they have had positive aspects, like most government agencies they have become top heavy with bureaucrats.  Allowing them to unionize further exacerbated the problem.  It made them part of the civil service unions, where it is very difficult to discipline or terminate a bad employee.  We are all aware that government agencies are not always as efficient and cost effective as private firms doing the same job.  For instance, in a recent internal audit, the TSA admitted that it missed over 90% of weapons that were placed in luggage by TSA individuals testing the security screening procedures.  Ponder that fact.

So, as recommended previously on this site, perhaps it is time to scale back the operations of the TSA and allow private security companies to once again perform transportation security checks for the airlines.  The DHS has many other areas, such as border security, where their funds could be better spent.