Here’s a research summary I did back in 2005 on the aviation industry. I’ve decided to post this because I’m in the process of booking a trip to Florida and I’m thinking…imposed fees….security check….bagged fees….security check….maybe I should book a very early departure to avoid a long line for security check
So security has become a very big topic with the emerging state of technology and national security. Since 9/11 the government is looking into new methods for securing the United States’ homeland. The Homeland Security Department has purposed the idea of consolidating current agencies, such as the TSA and Customs to make sure that each agencies information awareness. The proposal is asking for a 7% budget increase. This budget will create new government jobs; however, it poses an increase in cost for the nation’s airline.
The Homeland Security Department is looking to set up new methods and processes for the United States’ homeland security. The department is looking to combine management effects while increasing the government’s security power. The department is attempting to avoid budget cuts that could end about 150 spending programs. The Homeland Security Department administration is requesting $41.1 billion in funding for the year 2006. This is causing issues for the nation’s airline and airports who are looking to secure funds for aviation. So there is a big political battle taking place over funding. If the budget is approved, Homeland Security Department’s request, it would create a new office called the “Office of Screening Coordination and Operations”, which would take over the programs that are now run by the Transportation Security Administration. This could affect our economy, because new jobs will be create to support the new office, however, this new office will take over the existing office administrated by the Transportation Security Administration, which could end jobs.
All research and development activities would also be consolidated into the department’s Science and Technology Directorate. This would take over active that are now performed by TSA, the Coast Guard, Customs, and Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. The Homeland Security Department is not is not looking to close agencies that are currently running these activates, their goal is to combine them. The newly purposed budget would give these agencies more funding. Consolidating these departments will increase the national security, because these will have access to the same information. As we learned on 9/11, this event could have probably been prevented if these agencies were all on the same page.
So what does this do for the public? We get an increase in national security that is “valued” as our protection; however, we’ll continue to pay an additional cost for airline travel. This could very much affect our economy. As travel cost increase, the public decrease their amount of air travel, which will affect the airlines that will cut jobs into order to decrease spending. The airlines continue to taking a toll, because the public is not flying as much prior to 9/11. In addition to decrease in spending, airlines are reducing the numbers of planes in service into order to save cost.
Tim Richardson 