Aviation and airport security

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A little empathy for the TSA: They are being told to do the impossible

November 24, 2010

Let’s take a moment and view this patdown controversy through they eyes of the TSA. Nobody wants to be profiled. Nobody wants to go through scanners. Nobody wants patdowns. Frankly, nobody wants the TSA at the airports at all. And yet we all want the TSA to project us while we fly. The public is going to have to have a serious discussion about finding a balance between privacy and security. The obvious answer is profiling, despite the campaigns of professional privacy lobbyists against it.

Security Debrief |

November 24, 2010

TSA Administrator John Pistole puts a video up on YouTube explaining security procedures and, subtly, addresses the patdown controversy.

Security Debrief |

November 23, 2010

Seems like TSA has enough on its hands without media organizations, like PBS, attempting to gin up additional controversy over the TSA patdowns. We received numerous random e-mails from PBS encouraging us to tweet about TSA experiences during travel over the holiday weekend. They were particularly interested in anecdotes about wait times and “how the new security measures and some passengers’ resistance are playing out.”

FAA to require photos, but no biometric info, on pilot's licenses

Media Watch |

November 23, 2010

FAA to require photos, but no biometric info, on pilot’s licenses – Homeland Security Newswire
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed that all pilot certificates include a photo of the licensee, but one lawmaker wants to know why the passport-size cards will not include biometric identification five years after Congress passed a law requiring such unique identifiers.

Audit criticizes TSA screener training

Media Watch |

November 23, 2010

Audit criticizes TSA screener training – GovExec
The Transportation Security Administration needs to better prepare airport screeners, in part by standardizing the training process, according to a report from the Homeland Security inspector general’s office.

Steven Bucci |

November 23, 2010

America is once again going through one of the periodic dust-ups between security and privacy that mark our society as a truly free one. It was barely a year ago when the now infamous “Underwear Bomber” tried to ignite his chemically enhanced boxers to bring down an airliner over Detroit. At that time, nearly all the pundits and the most vocal citizens railed that TSA, DHS, and the President himself had let the American people down, and we had to do better. Now that TSA has done what “The People” called for, they are again vilified. Come on, folks, let’s get real.

Rich Cooper |

November 22, 2010

After what can only be described as an endless barrage of horror stories, TSA Administrator John Pistole has blinked when it comes to the less-than-comfortable pat-downs that the air-traveling public has experienced over the past few weeks. After stating in recent congressional hearings, cable TV interviews and to just about any other available forum that the pat-down procedures were here to stay, Pistole has cried “uncle” and thrown in the towel. As this debate continues to unfold, it plays to the extremes, rather than the real risks and realities that have to be dealt with daily in a dangerous security environment. Pandering to fears about health and privacy certainly makes great politics and great cable news content, but it doesn’t necessarily deal with reality. Our level of respect in the debate seems to be going down hill at a faster rate.

House Members Challenge TSA Policy on Pat Downs, X-Ray Technology

Media Watch |

November 22, 2010

House Members Challenge TSA Policy on Pat Downs, X-Ray Technology – CQ Homeland Security
At a time when the Transportation Security Administration’s use of “enhanced pat downs” is coming under increasing public fire, the Democratic leadership of one House committee and GOP leadership of another are asking the agency to reconsider the practice.

TSA chief: Screening may evolve

Media Watch |

November 22, 2010

TSA chief: Screening may evolve – Mike Allen – POLITICO.com Heeding a sudden furor, John Pistole, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said in a Sunday afternoon statement to POLITICO that airport screening procedures “will be adapted as conditions warrant,” in an effort to make them “as minimally invasive as possible, while still providing the […]

Jindal blasts Obama administration, calls TSA searches excessive

Media Watch |

November 22, 2010

Jindal blasts Obama administration, calls TSA searches excessive – The Hill’s Briefing Room
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) blasted the Obama administration’s handling suspected terrorist and called the Transportation Security Administration’s controversial search procedures excessive during NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

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