Orlando International Airport Considers Going With Private Security
If you are a frequent traveler then you have likely had the dissatisfying experience of showing up to the airport, faced with a security line that sometimes takes several hours to pass through.
Many travelers have had to reschedule their flights because of the inefficiency of the security system that is in place, sometimes waiting more than 3-4 hours in line, and a great deal of airports have frequently expressed their dissatisfaction overall with how the TSA goes about trying to get the job done.
At the Orlando International Airport, it's alleged that authorities there are now considering going with private airport security.
And even though an airport might opt for private screening, the TSA are still basically the ones in charge. This is because the TSA won't entirely be gotten rid of, even though they aren't doing the direct screening. They will still be there to oversee the general security, even be tasked with hiring the private contractors. And the private screeners will still need to follow TSA screening protocols.
However, the agents that will be doing the direct screening will be the private contractors themselves.
The airport authority in Orlando has allegedly been looking to pass the changes, though union members have expressed discontent with the change; many have protested in an effort to persuade them not to make the change to opt for private security.
Just recently, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority announced that they were going to delay the decision by at least 2 months.
If they are eventually successful in making the change, they will be regarded as the largest airport in the United States to have gone that route in opting for private security contractors.
The Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer, suggested that the consideration to make the move is a clear indication that the TSA needs to improve their efficiency. Dyer suggested that the change be tabled for now so that the TSA workers could be put at ease about their job security. It looks like the TSA will have at least two months to demonstrate that they can accurately address the problem and needs of the airport.
The airport chairman wants everyone to know that to him this is a very serious matter. And making the change to remove TSA screeners and opt instead for a private solution, would be a move that would take several months to carry-out.
There has been growing frustration over the horrible service that is being carried out. The mind-numbing queue times have prompted several airports around the country to announce their dissatisfaction with TSA and declare their own interest for an alternative option.
At least 15 airports around the country have already opted for private screening agents, though most of them are small airports.
However, though some airports might opt for private security, those agents are still operating under the direction of the TSA. All of the screening technologies being used must also comply with TSA operating procedures; they're still heavily involved in the process of things even when you don't think they might be. Even when it's private, it's still basically the TSA.
And the TSA has previously insisted that there isn't any difference in overall efficiency between the two options when carrying out the job tasks.
As far as how they might go about trying to change things and perform better? Well, they might have a difficult time in coming up with a solution. One of their previous ideas actually involved offering a cash reward ($15k) to anyone who could come up with an idea that might work to speed operations up.
The centralized authority that's involved in this market is clearly impeding the ability of the airports to look for solutions to the problem and it's keeping travel standards low by doing this.
Pics:
pixabay
Sources:
http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/orlando-international-airport-considers-replacing-tsa-with-privatize-airport-security
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-orlando-tsa-airport-decision-20180221-story.html
https://skift.com/2016/05/27/more-airports-may-ditch-the-tsa-and-use-private-security-instead/
https://www.popsci.com/some-airports-are-turning-to-private-industry-to-help-fix-airport-security
My recent international air travel experience has left me seriously considering a personal boycott on American airports, and it has every bit to do with the TSA's ridiculously burdensome procedures.
Flying into the states from Mexico City, I was dismayed to learn about the new rule that airlines must conduct an "extra" screening of passengers' electronics at the gate before passengers board the plane. WTF? Mexican security already screened everything, and now I have to have my laptop and phone swabbed with god knows what before I board my plane? And then when we landed in Charlotte, everyone with a domestic connecting flight had to go through security again after going through the insane customs line, plus re-check baggage. Many people with short layovers were panicking. I mentioned to a fellow frustrated traveler that the TSA has never actually caught a terrorist. We shared a moment of solidarity in our vitriol toward the agency. They are a giant lump of suck.
Hopefully they outsource this to foreign firms like they have already done at the seaports. That way they can more easily facilitate the human trafficking, drug trafficking, organ trafficking and weapons trafficking and not have to stuff it all in shipping containers. It's just a bonus if they mess with everyone's travel plans.
As someone who is so afraid of flying, I always get curios whenever I stumble on a post related with the aviation industry. If the TSA are still the ones overseeing the general security then wouldn't that mean that barely anything would change in regards with how things are done?
I personally don't mind the long wait as long as I feel safe. Im more worried about safety and I tend to just think that long ques mean stricter security 😅 I do understand though that time is precious and moreso in the world of business. Hopefully they arrive with a great solution that caters both to safety and efficiency.
good post..no surprise..and thanks for your support
Very knowledgeable info for traveler . Thanks for share this special. Have a nice day.
It's really cool thank you for sharing the story, I love to read
Honestly sometimes is annoying going through so much security and other bullshit but at the end of the day, it’s all for us , our safety and our safety can be progressed daily . Rather to be safe than sorry . Respect for that
wow, very nice photography in the morning
Good luck to you, Sir saint can do better. Thanks
Very strict security on this airport