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AVIATION ADMINISTRATIONTransportation Security Administration

Chapter 2 part 2

19/8/2013

Transportation Security Administration

Following September 11, 2001, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Today, TSA secures the nation’s airports and screens all commercial airline passengers and baggage. TSA uses a risk-based strategy and works closely with transportation, law enforcement and intelligence communities to set the standard for excellence in transportation security.

Mission, Vision 

Mission Protect the Nation's transportation systems to

ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Vision Provide the most effective transportation

security in the most efficient way as a high performing counterterrorism organization.

Transportation Security Administration

 is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the security of the traveling public in the United States.

The TSA was created as part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, sponsored by Don Young in the United States House of Representatives[and Ernest Hollings in the Senate, assed by the 107th U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001.

Originally part of the United States Department of Transportation

the TSA was moved to the Department of Homeland Security on March 9, 2003.

History and organization

 developing policies to protect U.S. transportation, especially in airport security and the prevention of aircraft hijacking.

With state, local, and regional partners, the TSA oversees security for highways, railroads, buses, mass transit systems, pipelines, ports. However, the bulk of the TSA's efforts are in aviation security.

The TSA is solely responsible for screening passengers and checked and carry-on baggage at 450 U.S. airports.

Private screening did not disappear under the TSA, which allows airports to opt out of federal screening and hire firms to do the job instead.

Such firms must still get TSA approval under its Screening Partnership Program (SPP) and follow TSA procedures

Passenger and carry-on screening

Identification requirements Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a

U.S. federal or state-issued photo identificationPassenger names are compared against the 

No-fly list, a list of about 21,000 names of suspected terrorists who are not allowed to board.

Passenger names are also compared against a longer list of "selectees", passengers whose names match names from this list receive a more thorough screening before being potentially allowed to board

At the airport security checkpoint, passengers are screened to insure they are not carrying prohibited items.

These include most sorts of sharp objects, many sporting goods such as

baseball bats hockey sticksguns or other weaponsmany sorts of toolsflammable liquids (except for conventional lighters),many forms of chemicals and paint.

In addition, passengers are limited to 3.4 US fluid ounces (100 ml) of almost any liquid or gel, which must be presented at the checkpoint in a clear, one-quart zip-top bag.

These restrictions on liquids were a reaction to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot.

November 2010 enhanced screening procedures

Beginning in November 2010, TSA added new enhanced screening procedures. Passengers are required to choose between an enhanced patdown, allowing TSOs to more thoroughly check areas on the body such as waistbands, groin, and inner thigh. or instead to be imaged by the use of a full body scanners (that is, either backscatter X-ray or millimeter wave detection machines) in order to fly. There changes were said to be made in reaction to the Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab bombing attemp

Patdown

Frisking (also called a patdown )s a search of a person's outer clothing wherein a person runs his or her hands along the outer garments to detect any concealed weapons or contraband.

Full body scanners

In November 2010, the TSA began putting backscatter X-ray scanners and millimeter wave scanners machines into airports. The TSA refers to these two technologies as Advanced Imaging Technologies or AIT.

Passengers are directed to hold their hands above their heads for a few seconds while front and back images are created. If the operator sees an anomaly on the scanner, or if other problems occur, the passenger will also have to receive the pat down.

Full body scanners have also proven controversial due to privacy and health concerns.

References

http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa

http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa/innovation-and-technology