Preparing airports for weapons of mass effect

Abstract

With terrorist threats in the news, now is the time for airports to review airport emergency/ airport security preparedness plans (AEPs/ASPs) in the event of an attack that may include weapons of mass effect (WME). These weapons include chemical, biological, cyber, radiation, nuclear blast and explosives that are likely threats to the airport in today’s uncertain world. This examination was intended to be primarily a descriptive and non-experimental analysis that measures the perceived preparedness of US airports and employee preparedness training in the event of an actual attack. The findings of this examination suggest that a gap exists in airport emergency and airport security preparedness at those US airports responding to the survey, and recommends that airport management at these airports adopt a security management system (SeMS) approach to AEP/ASP planning. It also suggests that an employee training checklist be incorporated into these plans to train airport employees on how to protect themselves in the event of an actual attack.