How Safe Is Flying Today?
Author: Laura Quarantiello
More than a year after the September 11th attacks, many travelers
are still wary of boarding commercial aircraft for fear of
further terrorist activity. Though the government has taken
steps to increase air travel safety - including creating of
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), placing
sky marshals aboard aircraft, and requiring that all airport
security in this country be handled by federal employees -
they have stopped short of deeming air travel safe, saying
that they cannot offer the public a blanket guarantee of protection.
So how safe is flying today? Should you be concerned the next
time you step aboard a commercial airliner? Safety at United
States airports is better than it ever has been. Only ticketed
passengers are now allowed past security checkpoints and all
passengers are required to show a government-issued identification
card (such as a driver's license or military ID) at the ticket
counter, security checkpoint, and boarding gate. More passengers
and their carry-on luggage are being searched and screened
before boarding. Carry-on bags have been limited to one piece
plus one personal item per passenger and no knives, box cutters,
or other sharp objects are allowed. More explosives detection
machines are in place to check luggage and the government
is moving toward having all bags screened by the end of the
year. A program known as CAPPS (Computer Assisted Prescreening
System) is being used at many airports to identify suspicious
passengers who are then taken aside and thoroughly searched.
There is no question that the new security measures have raised
the safety level. Everyone from skycaps to security officers
to flight attendants is now more aware of the potential for
trouble and are on the alert both for suspicious passengers
and questionable items in baggage. It is this level of awareness,
more than anything else, that makes flying one of the safest
means of travel there is.
You can be an unofficial member of the security team by
doing your part to contribute to an uneventful flight: Watch
for unattended luggage or bags in the airport terminal or
curbside area and report them to security.
Control your own luggage by keeping it with you at all times.
Refuse anyone's attempts to get you to take items aboard
the aircraft for them.
Don't be afraid to report "odd" behavior from other passengers,
but do it discretely - you could be wrong. Don't discuss terrorism,
bombs, guns, etc., but you may consider reporting someone
who is talking about these things. Comply with all security
requirements, even if it means unpacking your bags to satisfy
screeners.
Don't try to carry prohibited items aboard such as corkscrews,
golf clubs, ski poles or tools. Have electronic devices ready
for screening at the security checkpoint. Pack metal objects
you might otherwise wear in your carry-on bag instead of trying
to wear them through security checkpoints. Following the above
suggestions will make your trip through airport security smoother
and might even stop another tragedy before it happens.
About the author:
Laura Quarantiello wrote the book “Air-Ways: The Insider’s
Guide toAir Travel” to help you find cheaper, morecomfortable
flights. More info at: http://www.tiare.com/airways.htm
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