In an increasingly automated and technology-reliant environment, nearly everyone has experienced computer software malfunctions. Unfortunately, airport screening software is no exception. Last week, Nashville airport suffered a software glitch from an upgrade that forced screeners to hand inspect luggage. Nashville International airport serves between 9,000 and 11,000 passengers daily. Because of school spring break, numbers were higher as more families traveled to take advantage of the short vacation time. Lines were very long, and some flights were delayed as passenger lines formed throughout the airport and stretched to parking lots. The screening equipment was out of service for over five hours and caused tremendous back-logs and delays. TSA?s security representative at Nashville International, David Beecroft, wisely alerted other international airports because the same software is used elsewhere for screening. However, the incident appeared isolated.
Smiths Detection is a New Jersey-based division of Smiths Heimann, which manufactures the screening software that is used in 450 airports across the country. Susan Cooper, Director of Marketing, was told by TSA to refer all questions regarding this malfunction back to TSA. However, reports indicated that no other airport reportedly had a similar malfunction in software. Smith Detection?s X-ray technology is a compact security screening system that permits the inspection of bulky and small items without losing image quality.
Southwest Airlines is Nashville airport?s largest carrier, and passengers missed some flights while others were delayed by 90 minutes. Because the schedules were delayed, this resulted in a domino effect to other cities and airports, making for a very unpleasant air travel day.
Increasing reliance on computers must be counterbalanced by an expectation and understanding of malfunctions both during software upgrades and during normal surges; however, precautions?ie back-up systems and efficient manual security checks?must be on stand-by when it comes to airport safety. For example, perhaps if the software had been tested after the upgrade but before deployment, the issue might not have occurred. These kinds of security glitches affect not only the local airport, but have a ripple effect throughout the country, not to mention the horrendous public relations exposure such a security failure offers to an already weary air traveling public.
