There are standard operating procedures for law enforcement boarding planes, according to the document released by the TSA. The Federal Security Director at each airport must direct TSA officials to monitor all information that the law enforcement officers present, including their identification, badge, reason for flying and any other documents that allow them to carry a firearm or weapon on board a plane. This includes Federal Flight Deck Officers and Federal Air Marshals, who often travel on planes undercover to help protect against terrorist attacks or hijackings. TSA officials are instructed to use travel document-checking lights and loupes while inspecting all credentials.
X-ray systems that are used by TSA officials to scan bags and carry-on items from passengers boarding planes must be tested regularly to make sure they are operating properly and able to pick up images that may be weapons or bombs. This must occur at least once every 24 hours of operation and is done by running a test step wedge through the X-ray machine. This test step wedge has many different gauges of wire inside of it that are often used to make different types of bombs. TSA officials must notify TSA management if any of these wires are not detected by the machine for any reason, so the X-ray machine can be repaired or taken out of service.
If TSA officials believe an explosive is in a bag or carry-on item, they will use an explosive testing device to see if there are traces of any bomb-making materials on the bag itself without opening the bag. If the device sounds an alarm of any kind, TSA officials must immediately change their gloves, so as not to contaminate the test. The table must also be wiped down so that a more exact test can be done to the bag to determine what type of explosive materials may be inside of it or what the bag may have been exposed to.
