October 29, 2006

Airport Insecurity.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 1:24 pm

Dear air travelers, how does this grab ya?

The Star Ledger reported:

Screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport failed 20 of 22 security tests conducted by undercover U.S. agents last week, missing an array of concealed bombs and guns at checkpoints throughout the hub’s three terminals, federal security officials familiar with the results said.

So, had this been a high school quiz, the screeners collectively received a score of 9%. That’s not just an “F”, but it also would warrant a note home.

In one of the more elegant examples of spin (and proving that he has spent lots of time with consultants), Mark Hatfield Jr., Newark Airport’s federal security director, stated about the results of the test:

“We can do better, and training is the path to improved performance. … Test results are not a grade or a scorecard; they are a road map to perpetual improvement; any other characterization is simply misleading. We have to challenge ourselves to do better every day and be relentless in that pursuit.”

This is hardly an academic matter, because, after all, it was at Newark Airport where the September 11th hijackers boarded Flight 93, which ultimately crashed in Pennsylvania before it could hit its intended target.

I don’t know about you, but this loosens my bowels, and provides me with yet another reason to try to plan flights out of Newark when the airport bars are open.

6 Comments »

  1. The last couple of flights I’ve taken have been out of Newark … the last time, when I went to visit Eric, after I made it through security and was basically just waiting for my flight to board, I needed a smoke and so had to go to the front of the airport again (’twas a real ::joneser::) …

    After my cigarette, they GRILLED me in security, which I had to go through again. I didn’t have problems the first time around so I figured I’d be okay an hour later (my flight was delayed four hours) …

    I removed my sandals, the woman scanned me with that device, and when she wasn’t satisifed, I got more play from her than I’ve had from any guy in almost a year.

    My point … right. Based on my own experience[s] (I was in Israel before that and security was even stricter) I thought security was rigorous there. I was guess I was mistaken.

    Comment by Erica — October 29, 2006 @ 6:38 pm

  2. They’re so busy worrying about eyewash and toothpaste, they’d miss a 20 megaton H-bomb. I saw a bin of discarded water bottles in Atlanta’s airport Friday, many of them full. How stupid is that?

    The TSA needs to take a tip from El Al. Ask a lot of questions, and watch to see how people react. You need to be looking for people, not things.

    Comment by Elisson — October 30, 2006 @ 4:08 am

  3. Lovely. Just lovely. I was SUPPOSED to fly into Newark today, but switched last week. Lovely.

    I’ve never liked that airport. I’ve always said the only way they could gain population in Newark is via the airport. You can fly in but they never let you leave. Guess I had that backwards…..

    Comment by Tammi — October 30, 2006 @ 8:11 am

  4. Not Newark, but still: I suspected such ‘issues’ when twice they pulled my 71 y.o. mother out of line, wanding her in that geriatric rotisserie format they sometimes use, while everyone else sauntered through staring at her as the dogs-howling-siren alerted repeatedly to her, um, underwire support. Was she a member of al-Brassiera? How could we be sure?

    Comment by dogette — October 30, 2006 @ 12:52 pm

  5. Great, just great. I travel about 100 days per year. All of it out of EWR.

    Comment by N5 — October 30, 2006 @ 4:09 pm

  6. Government will not really get serious about Homeland security until the public gets serious about it.

    Comment by GUYK — October 30, 2006 @ 5:46 pm

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