Summary
Since the terrorist attack of 9/11, there have been major improvements in measures aimed at improving airport and aviation security. The improvements have majorly been successful due to technology and the continuous advancement in the sector. The 9/11 incident was a wake-up call to the US and the world in general on how they need to handle and approach aviation security. It is, therefore, significant to posit that many aviation organizations and other stakeholders in the field need to come with more measures that aim at improving aviation. The research hence seeks how technology can impact aviation security and also how human skills can be significant in aviation security.
In the present day, every segment of the airline industry is controlled by technology. According to reports, airlines were among the early adopters of technology. This has led to the creation of a dependency on technology by airlines to the extent that few aviation organizations can manage to function without the help of technology. The two sectors are interconnected in a way that ensures mutual and smooth interdependence among individuals. This has made it possible for airlines to understand the need of having proper information and communication technology systems that aid in work and realization of efficiency in operations. For the aviation players to also remain relevant in the industry, they need updated technologies that are not in operation by competitors as a way of staying ahead of the pack.
With the increase in the number of airlines, passengers, and other aviation players, security becomes a very significant factor. It is the role of everyone in the aviation industry to find out the best way of using technology to help solve the challenge of aviation security. In addition, the current challenge of the pandemic also possesses a significant risk to the security of the passengers. Aviation industries are finding out how they can use technology in reducing the risk of exposure of passengers to the COVID-19 virus. This has led to innovation in the field of computer reservation systems, web check-in, car rentals, hotel booking, and others. The passengers, therefore, do not need to perform all these functions by themselves. Such advancements can also become applicable in the event of the unavailability of Covid-19.
Through technology, aviation players are also able to ensure there is the coordination of services in the airport between airlines, pilots, and ground staff, among others. Such measures can be applied at the airport immigration, civil aviation authorities, air traffic control, customs, and others. If proper security measures are in place, with the aid of technology, there can be a proper flow of services, goods, and people without a lot of interruption. This paper, thus, seeks to find out the effect of technology on aviation security and the usefulness of human skills in aviation security. It finds out how humans can be less dependent on technology and if there are ways that can be properly utilized in improving security at airports and other aviation-related grounds in the world.
Literature Review
This chapter analyzes the literature that is related to the study. in many research cases, past studies are significant in guiding the researchers on the different types of researches that have been conducted on the same topic. Karoly (2017) presented a paper on technologies that counter aviation security threats. The paper sought to understand the various technologies that assisting in countering aviation security threats. The goal of the conference proceeding was also to rethink the security regime in the aviation industry in its entirety without having necessarily to focus on particular sections in the enterprise, ensures there is the distribution of security since reservation came through. The other goal is to re-engineer the security of aviation from the top to the bottom while focusing on ensuring the entire system is secure. Among the technologies explored include advanced imaging technology, advanced X-ray technology; explosives trace detection, explosives detection system, differential phase contrast, and others.
There is also a paper by Strohmeier et al. (2016) that assessed the impact of aviation security on cyber power. These researchers worked on a paper that analyzed a contradicting but related topic. It is significant to understand how aviation security impacts technology as opposed to the other way. They analyzed the effect of new wireless technology threat models on the power of cyber. This was made possible through the application of aviation as an example. They identified that among the reasons that prevent the aviation industry from improving its wireless protocol security are the prevalence of software and legacy-hard, the existing tradition of the industry, cost pressures, and others. It is a very important paper that industry players should consider utilizing while formulating policies.
Ates and Muratoglu (2019) studied the effects of technological changes on the security staff working in the ports of entry and this case, airports. The theoretical research found out that to perfectly evaluate how airport security personnel approach technology in their service delivery. The research also found out that change in technologies leads to psychological effects such as fatigue, stress and anxiety, monotony, and boredom among others. It has also had a major impact on the mood and morale of the employees and, therefore, if there is any way through which technology changes can have positive effects on airport security.
Dou (2020) published a paper on big data and smart aviation information management systems. According to the paper, aviation is facing major challenges in safety and improvement of performance. The paper, therefore, seeks out the effect of big data on aviation and the development of big data that focuses on aviation and related information systems. The researchers find that big data in aviation is important in the development of the smart aviation industry. Also, it found that the safety of aircraft can be guaranteed after the creation of aviation big data. The paper thus recommends that big data can be a significant measure in ensuring all-around aviation security.
The paper by Lykou et al (2019) on smart airport cybersecurity: Threat mitigation and cyber resilience controls. The article researches the rate of cybersecurity measures implementations with a focus on commercial airports, analysis of risk scenario focusing on the Internet of Things and installed smart devices, and risk scenario analysis of IoT malicious attacks with mitigation actions and others. Aviation in the present day is highly dependent upon big data and smart technology. Without such, it becomes difficult to perform functions as may be determined from time to time.
Objectives of the study
The following objectives will guide the study:
- To find out the influence of communication networks on aviation security in the US
- To study the effect of big data on the aviation security in the US
- To investigate the influence of the internet on the security of the aviation sector in the US
- To establish the impact of handheld technology devices on aviation security
Project Outcomes
Some of the key outcomes may be:
Communication networks will become important in aiding the aviation sector to overcome the major task of ensuring proper security. It is through communication networks that proper tracking processes can be undertaken. Also, communication among security threats can take place through the networks. This can help security agents arrest the situation before it goes out of hand. Big data will assist in innovating smart technologies that are important in keeping airports and airlines secure. The world today is backing on the expertise of professionals in data science. They can use data to develop models that can be best applied in managing the security issue in airports. The internet plays a very important role in the aviation security sector in the US. The security threats can use the internet in exploring the weak points in the aviation sector. Also, security agencies can use technology to curb any threats to the sector. Handheld devices such as metal detectors, handheld scanners, radio calls, and others play a role in aviation security.
Interest in the Project
I’m interested in the project because of the role aviation plays in the world. Considering the fact that many people are traveling from one point to another, it is important to understand how far the advances in aviation security are since 9/11. In the present day, technology runs every aspect of life. I’m therefore interested to learn how it can influence aviation security
Research Questions
The research questions are as below:
- What is the influence of communication networks on aviation security in the US?
- What is the effect of big data on the aviation security in the US?
- What is the influence of the internet on the security of the aviation sector in the US?
- What is the impact of handheld technology devices on aviation security?
Research Methodology
A research methodology explains how the data collection and analysis shall take place. This is an important section in any paper is provides a perfect way of understanding what shall be discussed in the results and conclusions sections. Without the methodology section, the paper lacks the reason for proceeding on continuing with the research process. This study will involve both primary and secondary data collection. The population who will be targeted shall comprise the entire United Airlines staff. This is made up of a total of 5,000 employees who will be included in the sample. The study will target the 2000 at the New York office. New York is selected as the study site due to time available for research, proximity to the researcher, and budgetary constraints among other factors.
The study will adopt a descriptive survey design because it aims to collect information from respondents on the impact of technology on aviation security. This kind of research design is important in exploratory studies where researchers acquire information, analyze and interpret. The study will collect both primary and secondary data depending on availability. Primary data will be collected from respondents through filling in questionnaires that will be available online. The collected data will be analyzed through the use of statistical software such as SPSS and STATA. Some of the sources of primary data will be questionnaires filled by employees of airline companies, employees of civil aviation authorities, security personnel, passengers, and others. Some sources of secondary data include online data sources, annual reports, websites, and others.
The research instrument used for this study will be self-administered questionnaires. While applying validity measures, the researcher intends to understand whether the items measure what they are made to measure. Pre-testing will be performed to assist in finding out the accuracy, suitability and clarity of the instrument of research. Lykou et al (2019) notes that two to three cases are enough for some pilot studies. For this study, a sample of six will be enough. Content validity will be analyzed to ensure the instruments answer all the research questions (Lykou et al., 2019). Based on the analysis of the pretest results, the researcher may make adjustments, corrections and additions to some research instruments.
There would also be reliability of instruments. This refers to the dependability, consistency or trustworthiness of a test. The research instrument applied here will be self-administered questionnaires. This will be done by using two different but equal forms of an instrument to the same group of people or research object during a similar period. Questions will be pretested before the actual study to find out their relevance to the study. The test items will be divided into two items that will be similar in content and difficulty and the scores of the two halves will be scored separately.
The process of data analysis will involve data clean up and explanation. It will then be coded and checked for any errors and omissions. Frequency tables and percentages will be used to present the findings. Responses in the questionnaires will be tabulated, coded and processed by use of a computer Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software to analyze the data. The responses from the open-ended questions shall be listed to obtain proportions appropriately and the response then reported by descriptive narrative.
Reference List
Ates, S. S. and Muratoglu, S. (2019) “The effects of technological changes on the security staff working in the airports: a theoretical research,” Pressacademia, 9(9), pp. 236–241.
Dou, X. (2020) “Big data and smart aviation information management system,” Cogent business & management, 7(1), p. 1766736.
Karoly, S. (2017) “Technologies to counter aviation security threats,” in. Author(s).
Lykou, G., Anagnostopoulou, A. and Gritzalis, D. (2018) “Smart airport cybersecurity: Threat mitigation and cyber resilience controls,” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 19(1), p. 19.
Strohmeier, M. et al. (2016) “Assessing the impact of aviation security on cyber power,” in 2016 8th International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCon). IEEE.