NCJ Number
131324
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 13 Issue: 4-5 Dated: (July-October 1990) Pages: 353-357
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In response to the increasing number of terrorist incidents involving airlines, American Airlines implemented a security program modeled on that used by El Al, the Israeli airline.
Abstract
The antiterrorism program is based on a risk analysis system which develops countermeasures to the risks inherent in each component of the airline's flight operation including passengers, catering, freight, and search of the actual aircraft. The system focuses only on those passengers deemed to be a potential threat to the aircraft. Security personnel at American Airlines receive a two-week training course which emphasizes passenger interaction, passport and ticket analysis, weapons and explosives and concealment methods, history of international terrorist groups, terrorist tactics, interviewing techniques, X-ray operation interpretation, and catering and freight security techniques. The airline currently uses the E-Scan X-ray equipment in all European and gateway cities; some concerns remain unanswered about the newly available TNA technology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which provides some intelligence information to airlines on security threats, should also take the lead in informing foreign governments of U.S. airline security regulations. Other steps that the FAA could take to combat international terrorism include requiring foreign carriers to adhere to U.S. security standards, providing the airline industry with the best in explosive detection equipment, and assisting in the training of airline security personnel.