Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
07:48
Eye Tracking During A Complex Aviation Task For Insights Into Information Processing
Published on: April 4, 2025
Terrorism risks and cost-benefit analysis of aviation security
1Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales 2308, Australia. mark.stewart@newcastle.edu.au
Summary
Installed physical secondary barriers (IPSB) and the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program are cost-effective security measures against terrorist attacks. Reallocating funds from the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) could save millions annually.
Area of Science:
- Aviation Security Policy
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Counter-Terrorism Strategies
Background:
- Post-9/11 aviation security measures in the U.S. require continuous evaluation for cost-effectiveness.
- Existing security layers include installed physical secondary barriers (IPSB), Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), and the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program.
- Assessing the economic viability of these measures is crucial for optimizing national security investments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-benefit of three key U.S. aviation security measures: IPSB, FAMS, and FFDO.
- To determine the minimum attack probability for each measure to be cost-effective.
- To analyze an alternative policy involving budget adjustments for FFDO and FAMS, and widespread IPSB implementation.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis was conducted, considering risk reduction, losses, and security costs.
- Break-even analysis calculated the minimum required annual probability of a successful attack for each measure's benefits to equal its costs.
- An alternate policy scenario was modeled with adjusted budgets for FFDO and FAMS, and universal IPSB installation.
Main Results:
- Installed physical secondary barriers (IPSB) are cost-effective if the annual attack probability exceeds 0.5% (one attack every 200 years).
- The Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program is cost-effective if the annual attack probability exceeds 2%.
- The Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) requires more than two successful attacks annually to be cost-effective.
Conclusions:
- IPSB and FFDO programs represent cost-effective security investments for preventing direct 9/11-style attacks.
- A revised policy prioritizing IPSB and FFDO, while reducing FAMS funding, could yield significant cost savings with negligible security impact.
- Optimizing aviation security spending through strategic reallocation can enhance overall safety and economic efficiency.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:50Threats to Biodiversity
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
01:25Biofuels
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
01:12Hazard Ratio
The hazard ratio (HR) is a widely used measure in clinical trials to compare the risk of events, such as death or disease recurrence, between two groups over time. It reflects the ratio of hazard rates—the instantaneous risk of the event occurring—between a treatment group and a control group. This measure provides valuable insights into the relative effectiveness of a treatment by assessing how the risk of an event differs between the two groups.
For example, in a clinical trial evaluating a...
For example, in a clinical trial evaluating a...