Too many stakeholders and competing interests permit only minor changes until either a major crisis erupts or significant time elapses. I like many of Superguy's ideas that were actually in response to the OP on another thread.
Originally Posted by Superguy
Several things.
1. Get rid of SSSS. It's a waste of time and and shows a belieft that the primary screening is ineffective. Just ask Bart what he thinks of it.
2. Have puffers at every checkpoint to check for explosives. Puffer would eliminate the need for swabbing shoes.
3. Shoes remain on.
4. If the WTMD doesn't alarm, you pick up your bags and go on unless there's an issue with one of the below.
5. If the WTMD does alarm, empty the pockets and remove belt (if a big buckle). If it alarms again, then do a hand wand.
6. Pat down areas only to resolve an alarm. This could be an HHMD alarm or something bulging that looks out of place (ie an overstuffed pocket, for example). Shoes only removed if they alarm the HHMD.
7. If the screener can't get a good look on at the bag while it's going thru x-ray, send it thru again. If the alarm can't be resolved, hand search the bag. Clean gloves are a must ... we shouldn't have to ask.
8. If a hand search is needed, do an ETD swab. If there's that much of a concern about liquids, swab the bottle.
9. Screen cargo that gets loaded below deck. This is the stuff the shippers like UPS load on the plane that is NOT screened at all currently.
10. Screen catering, ramp workers, etc. Things bought airside should have been screened in some way previously so as not to cause a problem at the gate.
11. Modify the prohibited items list to things that truly are a threat. Remove little things like little pocketknives (not the big Swiss army knives) that aren't a threat and waste time and resources.
It's not like any of this is rocket science. The above would go a long way to getting rid of security theater and would actually be pretty effective.