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First two hours, now three hours — this is how far in advance authorities are recommending people show up to catch a domestic flight,
從開始的兩個小時，到現在是三個小時——這是當局建議人們乘坐國內航班需要提前到達機場的時間，
at least at some major U.S. airports with increasingly massive security lines.
至少在一些安檢隊伍越來越長的主要的美國機場是這種情況。
Americans are willing to tolerate time-consuming security procedures in return for increased safety.
為了確保更加安全，美國人也愿意忍受耗時的安檢流程。
The crash of Egypt Air Flight 804, which terrorists may have downed over the Mediterranean Sea, provides another tragic reminder of why.
埃及航空804號航班很可能是由于恐怖分子襲擊，于地中海墜機，這一悲劇的發生也證明了乘客為何愿意忍受耗時的安檢流程。
But demanding too much of air travelers or providing too little security in return undermines public support for the process.
然而對飛機旅客要求太高，或者提供的安全保障太低只會使民眾對安檢流程關去信心。
And it should: Wasted time is a drag on Americans' economic and private lives, not to mention infuriating.
不過這也怪不了乘客：安檢所耗費的大量時間不僅使得乘客大為惱火，也損害美國人的經濟和個人生活。
Last year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) found in a secret check that undercover investigators were able to sneak weapons — both fake and real — past airport security nearly every time they tried.
去年，運輸安全管理局（簡稱TSA）在一次秘密的檢查中發現，便衣調查人員幾乎每次嘗試私攜武器——真假武器都有——通過機場安檢，都能順利通過。
Enhanced security measures since then, combined with a rise in airline travel due to the improving economy and low oil prices, have resulted in long waits at major airports such as Chicago's O'Hare International.
此后，機場加強了安檢措施，又因經濟不斷改善、燃油價格低，搭乘飛機出行的旅客增多，致使像芝加哥奧黑爾國際機場這樣的主要機場的安檢等待時間很長。
It is not yet clear how much more effective airline security has become—but the lines are obvious.
航空公司的安全措施變得多么有效尚不清楚——但等待安檢的隊伍卻明顯變長了。
Part of the issue is that the government did not anticipate the steep increase in airline travel,
隊伍過長的部分原因應該是政府未能預見搭乘飛機出行的旅客的劇增，
so the TSA is now rushing to get new screeners on the line.
因此TSA現在正急著招聘新的安檢員。
Part of the issue is that airports have only so much room for screening lanes.
部分問題在于機場提供安檢的通道有限。
Another factor may be that more people are trying to overpack their carry-on bags to avoid checked-baggage fees, though the airlines strongly dispute this.
另外一個因素可能是越來越多的人為了不交行李托運費而盡量隨身攜帶更多東西，盡管航空公司強烈反對這種說法。
There is one step the TSA could take that would not require remodeling airports or rushing to hire: Enroll more people in the PreCheck program.
要想解決這一難題，TSA或許可以采取這樣的措施，它既不需要重建機場，也不需要急著招聘新的安檢員：那就是將更多的人納入“PreCheck”系統。
PreCheck is supposed to be a win-win for travelers and the TSA.
“PreCheck”應該對旅客和TSA來說是個雙贏的好辦法。
Passengers who pass a background check are eligible to use expedited screening lanes.
通過背景調查的旅客可使用快捷安檢通道登機。
This allows the TSA to focus on travelers who are higher risks, saving time for everyone involved.
這樣TSA就可以集中精力檢查那些威脅更大的旅客，節約所有旅客的時間。
The TSA wants to enroll 25 million people in PreCheck.
TSA計劃將2500萬人納人“PreCheck”系統。
It has not gotten anywhere close to that, and one big reason is sticker shock.
但是此計劃沒有任何進展，一大原因就是背景調查的費用過高。
Passengers must pay $85 every five years to process their background checks.
每隔五年，旅客就要掏85美元來支付對他們進行背景調查的費用。
Since the beginning, this price tag has been PreCheck's fatal flaw.
從一開始，費用過高就是“PreCheck”的致命缺陷。
Upcoming reforms might bring the price to a more reasonable level.
按下來的改革可能會使背景調查的費用更加合理。
But Congress should look into doing so directly, by helping to finance PreCheck enrollment or to cut costs in other ways.
但是國會應直接尋求降低背景調查費用的方法，通過為“PreCheck”注冊提供資金幫助或者使用其他辦法降低成本。
The TSA cannot continue diverting resources into underused PreCheck lanes while most of the traveling public suffers in unnecessary lines.
TSA不能繼續在未充分利用的“PreCheck”通道上浪費資源，而讓大多數旅客忍受不必要的排隊時間。
It is long past time to make the program work.
為了使該系統投入使用已經耗費了太多時間。
