Defending the US Air Transportation System Against Chemical and Biological Threats

Defending the US Air Transportation System Against Chemical and Biological Threats

This report explores defensive strategies that could be used to protect air transportation spaces (specifically, airport terminals and aircraft) against attack with chemical or biological agents and makes recommendations to TSA.

2006

The air transportation system is an attractive target for a biological or chemical attack but no specific agency has been assigned responsibility for strategizing how to prevent this. There must be an ongoing threat assessment and we must take advantage of ongoing research about airflow in planes and terminals in order to strategize a defense response. Prevention should be emphasized before detection and response.