Aviation Security is too dependent on technology

In modern times, the need to travel from one place to the next has made the aviation industry a hugely popular and relevant sector. Pelton and Singh (2019) state that there is always a special focus on security in this industry. There have been many instances in the past where terrorists or criminals hijacked planes as they were flying. Some of these cases ended in tragedy. The September 11th terrorist attack on the United States changed the way that the aviation industry approaches security management (Ellis & Mohan, 2019).

Security is now based on sophisticated technology to screen passengers before they board planes. This helps to ensure that passengers do not bring contraband goods or weapons to use against crew members. Stakeholders in the aviation industry are concerned that technology is being used too much to manage security. This has resulted in a decrease in skills for security personnel as they believe their tools will allow them to screen passengers. This means that criminals could manipulate the instruments used to manage aviation security. It may put lives at risk for passengers and crew members. The researcher discusses the overreliance of technology in the management and security of the aviation industry.

It is crucial to begin by acknowledging the important role technology plays in improving aviation security. Gillena and Morrison (2015) state that the biggest security threats to aviation include terrorists or criminals trying to hijack planes, contraband goods transportation, and disturbances that could pose serious risks to safety of passengers and planes. To hide contraband goods, criminals have devised sophisticated methods to make sure they are not detected by normal human inspection. To ensure that passengers and luggage can be scanned by security officers, advanced inspection methods were needed. Below is an image showing a bag that was scanned by a scanner. Normal circumstances would require a lengthy time for security officers to examine the bag and determine its contents. It may not always be possible to inspect all bags, especially at busy airports like the Dubai International Airport. This scanner allows the officer to quickly identify the contents of each bag. The bag can be further inspected if it is suspected to contain something unusual.

To avoid detection by the police, some criminals may swallow pills or drugs. Some criminals even contemplate using surgical procedures to conceal contraband weapons or goods in order to avoid detection. These security problems can be solved by technology. Abeyratne (2019), explains that a full-body scanner can be used to identify foreign objects hidden under or inside a person's clothing. As shown in figure 2, it is easy to see when someone is hiding such items using the T-rays on X-rays, spectrum, and ultra-violet systems. This means that items classified as illegal goods or weapons are almost impossible to pass through security systems. These instruments made it easier for security officers to do their job.

It is difficult to underestimate the importance of technology in aviation security. Terror attacks continue to be a concern in many parts of the globe. It is becoming increasingly important that stakeholders in the aviation industry devise unique ways to enhance security at airports and in airplanes. Kruszka (2019), Klosak (2019) and Muzolf (2018) state that terrorists and criminals are a serious threat to aviation. It is essential to use sophisticated technology to combat them, especially in an age when the aviation industry is critical in facilitating trade and tourism, leisure travels, and other movements that are less desirable than other modes of transport.

Security professionals in this field have become so dependent on technology, they cannot function effectively without it. Finger and Button (2017) state that in the past security officers had to perform manual searches of their passengers to find contraband items or weapons they were not permitted to bring onboard planes. The advent of technology has made it possible to focus on the technology needed to accomplish these tasks. This means that if technology fails, it is impossible for these officers perform their duties effectively. Experts in aviation are worried about the diminished capabilities of these security officers, especially in an environment that is increasingly dangerous.

Aviation industry stakeholders are becoming more concerned about the decline in skills of security officers who rely heavily upon technology to perform their duties. Security at airports and on planes could be seriously compromised without these advanced instruments. These are the dangers posed by the excessive reliance on technology among airport security personnel.

Almazroui and Wang (2015) claim that the approach to training in aviation security courses has changed over time to keep up with the evolving technology. These institutions emphasize the use technology to detect contraband goods and weapons. These institutions teach their students how to use these sophisticated instruments, and what to do if something is found. Many aviation stakeholders are concerned about the fact that passengers are inspected using these technical equipment. There have been criminals who are keen to find ways to outwit the system. They are trying to cheat the system in order to bypass security. Tyler (2017) explained that technology was designed to increase the ability of these officers to inspect luggage, screen passengers and improve security in the airport and the immediate environment. The fact that machines are replacing human skills is a concern. Experts have become more dependent on these technologies and are less capable of performing the tasks that are expected of them.

Budd and Ison (2017) believe the lack of practice after officers begin their jobs can make matters worse. They rarely have to use the skills they learned in college. They find a technology-based environment as soon as they begin working. They may be assigned to operate a particular machine. This means they are rarely required to inspect goods or screen passengers. As they spend more time operating machines, their limited skills from college start to erode. These officers reach a point where they are able to inspect very few things without the machine after about ten years of experience. They lose sight of the basic tasks of checking baggage and frisking passengers. Finger and Button (2017) observed that a security officer's primary task is to interpret the body language and facial expressions of potential criminals.

An officer must practice to become a mind reader and be able to tell when someone is ill-motivated before boarding a plane. Sometimes, it's easy to spot someone who is planning to commit an offense. They avoid eye contact and unnecessary interactions with authorities because they are nervous. It would be possible to determine when a particular passenger needs to undergo a thorough screening by being able to read their minds. The majority of machines currently used at airports are not capable of reading the minds of passengers. This task should be performed by airport security agents. Problem is, machines have taken over all responsibility for screening. These officers are often not able to practice the skills they learned in school and end up being part of the technology system. They can't perform their duties effectively if the technology system fails.

Hacking is a major threat to the aviation industry. Budd and Ison (2017) state that criminals have devised clever ways to manipulate systems in a way which could endanger the lives of passengers or the safety of planes. These screening machines are dependent on unique computing systems. These computers can be hacked and fail to provide accurate information security officers need to make crucial decisions. This means that officers can make serious mistakes if they get incorrect information from these systems. The chances of the weapon getting into an airplane are very high if the computer system is unable to detect it in a bag or inside a person's body.

The majority of people responsible for inspection are so dependent on these systems that any failure could have devastating consequences on the outcome. This means that if the airport management lacks sophisticated technology that can outsmart the hacking skills of terrorists and criminals, the lives of passengers could be at stake. Major airports in the United Arab Emirates such as Abu Dhabi International Airport and Dubai International Airport are protected from hackers. These systems are not perfect, but they do present a risk. In the event of hacking, security officers need to be able to perform their duties effectively.

The technology used to enhance security in the aviation sector was intended to complement the skills and expertise of aviation security personnel. It was intended to improve security and speed up screening and inspection of baggage and passengers. The current trend is that security agents are becoming more dependent on aviation technology than they can perform their duties. Criminals are posing a greater threat to security agents by transporting contraband goods. As such, officers must be able to identify them without necessarily relying upon the machines. Extremists also have the ability to transform planes into weapons for mass destruction. These individuals should be arrested and identified whenever they attempt to board such planes. The following recommendations should be considered by stakeholders in the aviation industry to address the issue of too much reliance on technology for aviation security.

• Training schools for aviation security should be able to manually screen passengers and inspect their baggage.

• Airports need to create a system that allows employees to practice manual screening and use the technology available.

• Regular on-the-job training should be provided to aviation security officers in order to improve their skills.