These days, aviation security news items simply boggle the mind.

There are toddlers appearing on no-fly lists.  An adorable, 18 month old girl is pulled off of a flight earlier this month.  The airline claimed she was on its no-fly list, due to computer glitch, and justified its action as following protocol.

There are emerging terrorist weapons which frustrate our technical security systems.  Terrorists are developing bombs that are non metal, made of hard to detect components, and are well concealed.

The public is increasingly impatient.  At this point, travelers are virtually at war with (more…)

Kudos to the CIA and its intelligence partners for foiling the latest Al Qaida bomb plot out of Yemen.  It appears the explosive device destined for a U.S.-bound flight was an improvement over previous models like the one used by Abdulmutallab aka the Underwear Bomber in December 2009.  The lead azide detonator is more reliable.  Being devoid of metal obviously makes this IED that much harder for screeners to find.  It would seem the al Asiri lab is making headway.

That terrorists are improving their methods and adjusting their attack strategies in step with our (more…)

Tourists come to Tel Aviv, also known as “The City that Never Sleeps” to enjoy its beaches and cafes, its museums, funky architecture, vibrant culture and night life.  At the same time, Israel is a tiny country, with no shortage of enemies, often a target.  Israelis may well be fun loving and irreverent, but they take security very seriously.  There, homeland security is not theoretical but rather existential.  And thus Israel has earned the unfortunate distinction of being amongst the world’s best when it comes to security.

What better place, then, to learn about using a threat-oriented security approach than in Tel Aviv?  That is exactly what you can do (more…)

One of the latest anti-TSA viral blogs circulating this month relates to how to beat backscatter x-ray machines.  Jon Corbett shows how he foiled the scanner at a number of airports by affixing a small metal box to the side of his clothing.  The box appears black at the edge of his white silhouette against a black background, rendering it invisible.  Between the public outcry regarding privacy issues and the questionable security this technology provides, the TSA has been installing new software on all millimeter wave imaging machines that eliminates the passenger-specific images and instead just indicates the location of potential threat items on a generic outline.  Official TSA Blogger Bob has further refuted Jon’s claims, stating that (more…)

In response to the most recent series  of TSA screening missteps, New York Senators Schumer and Gianaris are suggesting the addition of a TSA Advocate at each airport who would intervene between TSA officers and passengers who feel violated.  Also on the table is an 800 number for passengers  to call for clarification of TSA procedures regarding medical devices, and to learn what they could expect to face at the airport.

With skyrocketing budgets and sketchy efficiency, I hardly think that another layer of employee is needed.  If a given screener is adhering to TSA policy, then an Advocate would simply be repeating to the passenger what is already known.  If the screener is not adhering to TSA policy then screening management needs to figure out why, maybe boost training and communication, and fix the problem.  An Advocate would not be able to do that.  An Advocate would be unable, as we all are, to answer the question: why do TSA policies lack common sense?

Instead of Advocates what is sorely needed are Threat Assessors.

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A client of ours, a Security Training Supervisor at a federal financial institution in the Midwest, called to chat.  They have been using Chameleon’s Predictive Profiling Online course as part of their curriculum for about a year now, and he called to tell me how pleased he is with the program.

Tell me more, I begged.

This is what he liked:

• The course information is taught using actual events and real situations via videos or in abundant reference materials.  The students aren’t given purely hypothetical scenarios but (more…)

A story I heard from a client the other day confirms the simple power of security questioning as a really effective tool.  I’d like to share it with you.

A security officer who works for a large U.S. company had taken our Predictive Profiling and Security Questioning course.  Let’s call him Mike.  Mike was working the access control checkpoint at their main headquarters where both a metal detector and screening machine are in place.  These are located in a large lobby with a good deal of people traffic and activity.

A visitor to the facility approached to be screened and was flagged by the operator as having a questionable object in their bag.  (more…)

Over the past month, about 40,000 domestic U.S. travelers have been allowed to breeze through security checkpoints with their shoes and jackets on, toiletries and laptops intact.  They are part of the test phase of a voluntary TSA program called PreCheck meant to expedite travel for passengers who have been – as the program name implies – vetted in advance.  This identity verification pilot program is underway at four airports: Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas and Miami.

Travelers provide in advance application personal information in exchange for the possibility of expedited travel.  The lucky participants are gathered from an elite group of very frequent fliers on American and Delta, along with members of the existing trusted traveler programs Global Entry, Sentri and Nexus.  Over a million people are enrolled in the (more…)

Chat Downs is the term used to describe the TSA’s latest behavioral detection procedures currently being tested at Boston Logan and Detroit Metro airports. ‘Chat Down’ has a nice ring to it.  When done correctly, this kind of purposeful questioning should indeed be as casual and friendly as a chat.

Up until recently at the TSA, behavioral assessment was conducted by a Behavioral Detection Officer (BDO) looking for observable physical signs whether it be a facial twitch or an unusually sweaty body.  The chat takes assessment to a new and I think more effective level.

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Israeli security at Ben Gurion International Airport is considered preeminent in the world.  I personally have passed through El Al security lines several times over the last few decades.  Pop quiz:  how many times did I have to take off my shoes?  Answer: . . . (more…)