Hank Investigates: The Future of Airport Security

At every airport across the country now, the focus on door ways, gates, access, security screeners, who and what's getting through that shouldn't.

You might think knives and box cutters shouldn't, but according to FAA regulations, since their blades are less than four inches long, they are acceptable carry-ons!

We showed the knives to Michael Chapman, a former screener at Logan airport. He says that what goes through depends on who's looking.

Michael Chapman, Former Logan Airport Screener
"Yes, I would report it."

Hank Phillipi Ryan
"Do you think every one would?"

Michael Chapman
"No."

Hank Phillipi Ryan
"Why?"

Michael Chapman
"Because they don't care."

Carry-on screeners aren't airports only potential vulnerability, there's baggage handlers, food service, tarmac access. Government records reveal all these are U.S. airport security violations the FAA discovered in just the last year and a half! Our calculations show United Airlines with $1.3 million in fines--American Airlines with $2.6 million.

We know some of those violations were at Logan. But Mary Schiavo, former inspector general of the FAA, told me from Columbus Ohio today that in her undercover investigations, Logan airport came out average.

Mary Schiavo, Former FAA Inspector General
"They were about in the middle of the pack over all. They were clearly not the the best on previous security tests when I was inspector general, but they were also not the worst."

One problem: airport security is based on perception: that people just THINK things are under control. Schiavo told me that illusions don't deter well organized terrorist operations.

Mary Schiavo
"And unfortunately, the only perceptions that really fooled was the American public. It didn't fool anyone else."

As we first reported, new federal regulations for airport security go into effect in just two weeks. No one can say whether those would have been a deterrent.

But Schiavo says that it's certain that you're next airplane trip, from whatever airport, will be an entirely new experience.

Mary Schiavo
"Literally starting as of yesterday morning, aviation cannot exist like it did in the past because tight now we don't have any aviation and we won't have normal aviation for some time."

One more chilling note: experts we talked with are wondering whether one reason the terrorists may have chosen Boston is that it's the home of the FAA administrator. They theorize it might be to send just one more message--we're in your own back yard.