If you plan on flying to the United States any time soon (or plan on flying out of the United States, then coming back), prepare to face a new level of airport security. The Obama administration and the Department of Homeland Security are preparing to set new international airport security screening standards based on real-time, threat-based intelligence on all flights coming into the United States. The efforts are a more permanent set of measures that replace the ones put in place after the failed Christmas Day shoe bombing on a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
“These new, enhanced measures are part of a dynamic, threat-based aviation security system covering all passengers traveling by air to the United States,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. “To more effectively mitigate evolving terrorist threats, these measures utilize multiple, random layers of security, both seen and unseen and are tailored to intelligence about potential threats.”
It is unknown whether or not the new security measures will get you through the airport faster or require you to wait a little bit longer, but hopefully they’re more effective at keeping would-be assailants off of planes than the current system. Anything based on actual, specific threats is a good thing. Cure is good, prevention is best.
Tags: airport security, new layer of airport security, new airport security measures, new level of security for flights to the United States, international airport security, screenings based on real-time information, Department of Homeland Security
