2020 August Edition 47 | Page 39

www.AmericanSecurityToday.com 2020 - Edition 47 Pat-down procedures are used by TSA screeners to determine if prohibited items or other threats to transportation security are concealed on the person, however, in the post- COVID aviation environment, airports and airlines are embracing “contactless” travel procedures, including airport temperature checks and self-service biometrics. Why is TSA Doing Pat Downs at U.S. Aviation Checkpoints During COVID? OpEd by Mitchell Brown, former U.S. TSA Federal Security Director After months in which most Americans simply stopped flying due to COVID-19, there are encouraging signs that US air travel is recovering. Americans are returning to airports. Much of the credit goes to airports and airlines, which have implemented aggressive cleaning and social distancing measures to reassure passengers that flying is safe. 39