The article completely misses the point of the TSA. It is not meant to actually make air travel safer. It is there for exactly two reasons:

1) Provide our dear politicians the satisfaction that they "Did something" - Security theater is very useful during election times (Tough on Crime et al)

2)Provide a convenient excuse to expand the govt. ability to dictate yet another aspect of people's normal lives. The govt. now has another tool to harass "undesirables" - simply put their name on a "No fly", "No Train" , "No $SomeOtherThing" list and have their TSA buddies enforce it. Or have the "undesirables" be pulled aside for Random screenings every single time [1].

[1] http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/07/citizenfour-filmm...

This is the real purpose of the TSA. Your safety or saving lives is irrelevant.