Most Americans are probably used to the stringent protocols of air travel by now, but it wasn’t always that way.
Sept. 11, 2001 caused a shockwave to America in countless ways, and one if its most visible effects is the transformation of travel and the aviation industry. Only two months after the attacks, the Transportation and Security Administration was created.
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“In the aftermath of the attacks, the first thing that we saw was National Guard in the airport that were providing security in the terminal areas,” said Herbert Judon, executive director of Augusta Regional Airport.
Before 9/11, airlines were responsible for providing security at the airport checkpoints. The Federal Aviation Administration oversaw security and different companies were used to screen passengers and bags before the TSA took over those responsibilities.
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Judon, who has been in the aviation industry for 30 years, recalls how drastically different airport safety measures were before 2001. Non-ticketed persons, for example, were permitted to go past security.
“If you had to see off a relative, you could go down to the gate and see that person off and then just come back off and go to your car,” said Judon. “That’s something that changed the whole environment significantly.”
While most of these procedures have become the norm, their foundation was laid long before 9/11. The 60s and 70s saw a significant number of airplane hijackings. However, the 9/11 attacks still had a profound effect that rippled particularly across the aviation industry.
“Everybody was so shell shocked that it was one of those rare times when everybody was on the same sheet of music,” said Judon. “Those changes were well-received because there was a sense of unity.”
Other changes have been enacted over the past two decades because of foiled terrorist plots. Airplane cockpit doors have been reinforced. The types of items that can be brought on board have changed with restrictions being placed on amount of liquid in containers. Also, people are required to have their shoes scanned for the explosives, according to tsa.gov. Full body scans have also been implemented since 9/11.
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The security regulations require that airport and airline employees all play a role in keeping everyone safe. The strong sense of accord among staff at airports and airlines in response to the attacks highlighted a sense of alertness and responsibility that was already present in the industry and has become even more entrenched since then.
Judon believes this is better understood now than it was prior to 9/11.
“I think those of us that work in the industry understand that even of our jobs aren’t directly related to security, there’s certain expectations of being vigilant when you’re in and around the airport environment,” he said. “We have to pay attention, report things, see something say something. Those ideas have now been ingrained in those of us who work in and around airports.”
9/11 has also underscored the criticality of airports and airlines and their ability to be shrewd and adaptable in ways that have been proven since with events such as the COVID pandemic, and before that the spread of H1N1 and SARS.
“The last 20 years in the aviation industry, airports specifically, have learned to be very flexible to adjust and to pivot,” said Judon. “To put certain protocols in place when we have these health crises or security or geopolitical events.”
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Augusta Regional Airport in particular makes sure remembers the day and its effects that would eventually ripple to courses of action that are normal today.
“For the past several years, we’ve implemented a moment of silence here at the airport,” said Lauren Smith, public relations manager at Augusta Regional. “8:36 is the national moment of silence for that day. The TSA will actually make an announcement inside the terminal for a moment of silence, and we also invite our staff to go meet outside at our flagpole.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
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