There is something in our daily life, something which is cruel, something which is evil, something that may hurt millions of people. Terrorism. However it has been in our lives throughout the whole human history. Today we are afraid of mentioning about terrorism more than ever. This is because it is easy to destroy or hurt a nation by means of developed technology. Most of the nations have scars which were left by terrorists. United States of America has the scar which will never recover. Two airplanes crashed into the North and South Towers in New York City and the third plane crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Almost 3000 people died in the attack. It is obvious that 9/11 attack has affected and changed America in many different points unfavorably. Those points may be lined as air travel, governmental and security, immigration, tourism and change of perspective towards Muslims. During this period of changes one of the most affected areas from this incident is air transportation. It is easy to recognize that 9/11 has affected and changed U.S air transportation and air travel security.

The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” (Terrorism). The FBI uses this "Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives." (What We Investigate). The U.S. Department of State defines terrorism as "premeditated politically-motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience." (Country Reports on Terrorism). Within these definitions, there are two key elements: violence and fear, each element produces terror in its victims. As a result of this violence and fear that America felt with 9/11, they changed their security standards in air travel.

Congress federalized airport security by passing the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which created Transportation Security Administration two months later from the incident. November 19, 2001 congress passed the bill and they started to practice new kind of security methods.

First they have changed and improved their screening methods. Any kinds of luggage, bag or passengers were going through the metal detectors and x-ray machines since 60’s, after 9/11 this plain methods have changed dramatically. There are new and more detailed screening methods like: shoe scanning, whole body scanners, crew scanning.

Advanced Imaging Technology is one of fundamentals of body screening. When a passenger arrives to the airport, s/he has to walk through those machines and by doing these officers from TSA have the image of person’s full body’s and a chance to control whether passenger has a prohibited items on him/her without touching them directly. During this screening process people have right to keep their head covers (scarfs) or piercings, but if it is necessary for controller they may be asked for another screening control or take their things off. Although it is written on TSA’s basic information as “Advanced Imaging Technology screening is safe for all passengers and the technology meets national health and safety standards.” (Advanced Imaging Technology). For some reason like radiations, which are spread out from these machines, people may not want to walk through these machines. Then their option is pat-down procedure. Passenger will be controlled by hand by same gander officer. In case disabled passenger or a passenger who has medical conditions call TSA Cares Help Line 72 hours before the flight and give information about their condition, during the screening procedure they will get help by appointed officers (TSA Cares Help Line).

While it is forbidden to use locks except TSA accepted ones, for laptop users it is expected them to use the bags produced for X-ray scan in sense that they provide more clear image of the inside. And during this process passengers should remove their shoes for shoe control before the boarding. Also they started to use sniffer dogs for scanning unidentified bags. In April 1, 2011, TSA Press Office announced that crewmember screening will be more efficient and easier thanks to the new Crewmember Identity Verification Program. The program has information about pilots and crews, so it will be easier to check them.

Besides all these screening and scanning processes TSA decreased carry on rules about liquids and other things which are already limited. As the last thing TSA made security officers talk with every passenger during process and ask questions. If anything suspicious about them, then they carry the situation upper class security.

Just as on this paper work, there is a long way to go between check points and boarder gates. Even President B. H. Obama joked about this long run. He said "Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying – without the pat-down"(Obama). Post 9/11 security has been changed in those basic points through twelve years. Support those changes or not every passenger has to pass those steps one by one as government has almost thought every little detail for passengers. It is the truth that top level new security has worked well so far.

Work Cited

“Advanced Imaging Technology”. TSA. TSA, 02 April 2013. WEB. 01 May 2013.

<http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/advanced-imaging-technology-ait/>

“Country Reports on Terrorism”. State. State. WEB. 30 April 2013.

<http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/>