Each day in the United States, roughly two million air travelers are advised to arrive two hours before a flight in order to be processed through a one-size-fits-all security screening system.

Has the system worked? By one measure, yes. There have been no successful terrorist activities against an American airliner since the horrible events of September 11, 2001.

Is today's security screening system the most cost effective and efficient that the United States of America can possibly produce? No. The country that put a man on the moon, invented the Internet and creates daily innovations in manufacturing can and must do better.

In an effort to spark a productive dialogue and begin the process of reform, the U.S. Travel Association brought together a Blue Ribbon Panel for Aviation Security. Based on the advice of the panel experts and the views of thousands of travelers, the U.S. Travel Association and panel co-chairs make the following recommendations:

• Goal Number One – Improve the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint by increasing efficiency, decreasing passenger wait times and screening passengers based on risk
• Goal Number Two – Improve governmental efficiency and cooperation in the execution of its security responsibilities
• Goal Number Three – Restructure our national approach to aviation security by developing and utilizing real risk management methods and tools

View the panel’s recommendations or download the complete Blue Ribbon Panel report.