Crimes Committed Against Commercial Aviation in America and Their Impact on U.s. Aviation Policy (1931-2001)

Book excerpt: Crimes Committed Against Commercial Aviation in America and Their Impact on U.S. Aviation Policy (1931-2001): Signaling the Need to Create an Independent Federal Agency to Promote Aviation Security (A Masters Thesis) ABSTRACT America's aviation system has long been a target of terrorists, criminals, and the ill-intentioned. Since the first hijacking in 1931, our aviation policy has remained reactive and at the whim of self-serving stakeholder agendas. Hijackings, bombings, and the discharging of weapons at and onboard aircraft are all examples of recurring aviation crimes that stakeholders and politicians have failed to stop. This thesis examines crimes against aviation from an historical perspective in order to frame the issues of this cyclical phenomenon, identify the self-serving agendas of stakeholders, and to expose failed legislative efforts. Significant criminal acts against aviation from 1931 through 2001 were compiled, analyzed, and then compared to resultant legislative activity. These policy actions were further examined to identify which policies had been fully implemented, overturned, or never put into effect. Legislative bodies and federal agencies with regulatory authority over aviation policy were also scrutinized. In addition, underperformance, loss of leadership, and financial mismanagement at the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration were examined for their impact on America's aviation security posture post-9/11. Based on initial findings, this thesis identifies the need to create an independent federal agency dedicated solely to promoting aviation security, similar to the role the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) currently fulfills for aviation safety issues. August 2006: Thesis submitted by Allen Ellison in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Government, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.