Information about Airport Security

Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and by extension aircraft from crime and terrorism.

Large numbers of people pass through airports every day. Such a large gathering of people presents a natural target for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a small area. Similarly, the high concentration of people on large airliners, the potential high lethality rate of attacks on aircraft, and the ability to use a hijacked airplane as a lethal weapon provide an alluring target for terrorism.

Airport security provides a first line of defense by attempting to stop would-be attackers from bringing weapons or bombs into the airport. If they can succeed in this, then the chances of these devices getting on to aircraft are greatly reduced. As such, airport security serves two purposes: To protect the airport from attacks and crime and to protect the aircraft from attack.

Airport enforcement authority

While some countries may have uniform protection at all of their airports, in other countries like the United States, the protection is controlled at the state or local level. The primary personnel will vary and can include:

• A police force hired and dedicated to the airport
• A branch (substation) of the local police department stationed at the airport
• Members of the local police department assigned to the airport as their normal patrol area
• Members of a country's military
• Members of a country's airport protection service
• Police dog services for explosive detection, drug detection and other purposes

When additional personnel are required, then several of the groups listed above can be used and as required supplemented by other resources that include:

• Officers from the normal agency, but in larger numbers using personnel not normally assigned to the airport
• Security guards
• Paramilitary forces
• Military forces

Process and equipment

Many past tragedies were the result of travelers being permitted to carry either weapons or items that could be used as weapons on board aircraft so that they can hijack the plane. Travelers are quickly screened by a metal detector. More advanced explosive detection machines are being used in screening. Passengers must be screened to prevent the carrying of bombs aboard an aircraft. X-ray machines are often used to speed this process. Explosive detection machines can also used for both carry on and checked baggage. These detect volatile compounds given off from explosives using a kind of gas chromatography ^[1]. A recent development is the use of X-ray backscatter scanners to detect hidden weapons and explosives on passengers. These devices, which use Compton scattering, require that the passenger stand close to a flat panel and produce a high resolution image ^[2].

Generally people are screened through airport security into the concourses, where the gates are all located. This area is often called a secure or sterile area, and is referred to as airside. Passengers are discharged from airliners into the sterile area so that they usually will not have to be rescreened if disembarking from a domestic flight; however they are still subject to search at any time. For those airports that have sit down eating establishments, a common feature is that they will use plastic cutlery and paper cups rather than metal cutlery and glasses made out of glass, lest they be used as a weapon. Traditionally, non-passengers were allowed on the concourses to meet arriving friends or relatives at their gates, but this is no longer allowed in the interest of security in the United States.

In some countries, specially trained individuals may engage passengers in a conversation to detect threats rather than solely relying on equipment to find threats.

Notable incidents

The single deadliest airline catastrophe resulting from the failure of airport security to detect an onboard bomb was Air India Flight 182 in 1985, which killed 329 people.

Another notable failure was the 1994 bombing of Philippine Airlines Flight 434, which turned out to be a test run for a planned terrorist attack called Operation Bojinka. The explosion was small, killing one person, and the plane made an emergency landing. Operation Bojinka was discovered and foiled by Manila police in 1995.

On May 30, 1972 three members of the Japanese Red Army undertook a terrorist attack, popularily called the Lod Airport massacre, at the Lod Airport, now known as the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Tel Aviv. Firing indiscriminately with automatic firearms and throwing grenades, they managed to kill 24 people and injure 78 others before being neutralized (one of them through suicide). One of the three terrorists, Kozo Okamoto, survived the incident.

The Rome and Vienna airport attacks in December 1985 were two more instances of airport security failures. The attacks left 20 people dead when gunmen threw grenades and opened fire on travelers at El Al airline ticket counters.

On August 10, 2006, security at airports in the United Kingdom and the United States was raised significantly due to the uncovering by British authorities of a terror plot aimed at detonating liquid explosives on flights originating from these countries. This is also notable as it was the first time the US Terror Alert Level ever reached Red. The incident also lead to tighter restrictions on carrying liquids and gels in hand luggage in the EU. ^[3]

Airport security by country

Canada

All restrictions involving airport security are determined by Transport Canada and are enforced by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, as well as the Air India bombing in 1985 and other incidents, airport security has tightened in Canada in order to prevent any attacks in Canadian Airspace.

CATSA uses x-ray machines to verify the contents of all carry-ons as well as metal detectors, explosive trace detection (EDT) equipment and random physical searches of passengers at the pre-board screening points. X-ray machines, CTX machines, high-resolution x-rays and EDTs are also used to scan checked bags. All checked bags at most airports are required to be x-rayed for domestic flights, but all international baggage is always x-rayed.

CATSA also completed the first phase of its Restricted Area Identity Credential (RAIC) program in January of 2007. This program replaces the old Airport Restricted Area Passes issued to airport employees after security checks by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Transport Canada with new cards (issued after the same checks are conducted) that contain biometric information (fingerprints and iris scans) belonging to the person issued the RAIC.

The RAIC has yet to be extended to the security permiter of Canadian airports for vehicles and persons entering from checkpoints not within airport terminals.

While CATSA is responsible for pre-board passenger and random non-passenger screening, they contract out to third-party "service providers" such as Aeroguard Ltd and Garda to train, manage and employ the screening officers. In addition, individual airport authroties which were privatized in the 1990s by the Canadian Government are responsible for general airport security rather than CATSA and normally contract out to private companies and in the case of large airports, pay for a small contingent of local police officers to remain onsite as well.

France

French security has been stepped up since terrorist attacks in France in 1986. In response France established the Vigipirate program. After a brief drop of the program it was reinstated in 1991. The program involves using troops to reinforce local security. The program increases requirements in screenings and ID checks. Since 1996 security check-points have transferred from the Police Nationale/Gendarmerie de l'Air to private companies hired by the airport authorities.

Hong Kong SAR

The Hong Kong International Airport is secured by the Hong Kong Police Force and Aviation Security Company (AVSECO). Within the police force, the Airport District is responsible for the safety and security of the airport island. Airport Security Unit (ASU) members are deployed around the airport and are visibly armed with H&K MP5 A3 Submachine Gun. The security of the restricted area is the responsibility of the police and AVSECO.

While the airport is under the control of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the security power has been delegated to the AVSECO staffs. All persons and baggages carried by them must be X-Rayed and checked at the security screening points of the AVSECO (with a few exceptions at the Tenant Restricted Area).

The Customs and Excise Department will check passengers and crews' luggage to prevent smuggling of drugs and contraband from entering Hong Kong. New regulations have been made similar to Europe as of April 2007, no liquids can be brought onto a plane which exceed 100ml.

India

India stepped up its airport security after the 1999 Kandahar hijacking. The Central Industrial Security Force , a paramilitary organisation is in charge of airport security. CISF formed an Airport Security Group this security force is dedicated to protect Indian airports. Each and every airport has now been givin an APSU (Airport Security Unit), a highly trained unit to counter unlawful interference with civil aviation, apart from the CISF every airline has a highly trained aviation security force which is a separate department.

Terrorist threats and narcotics are the main threats in Indian airports. Another problem that some airports face is the proliferation of slums around the airport boundaries in places like Mumbai. Before you board the aeroplane, there is liable to be a search of your hand luggage.

Singapore

Security for the country's two international passenger airports, comes under the purview of the Airport Police Division of the Singapore Police Force, although resources are concentrated at Singapore Changi Airport where scheduled passenger traffic dominate. Seletar Airport, which specializes in handling non-scheduled and training flights, is seen as posing less of a security issue. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the naming of Changi Airport as a terrorism target by the Jemaah Islamiyah, the airport's security has been stepped up. Roving patrol teams comprising of two soldiers and a police officer armed with machine guns patrol the terminals at random.

Assisting the state organizations, are the security services provided by the ground handlers, namely that of the Singapore Airport Terminal Services's SATS Security Services, and the Aetos Security Management Private Limited, formed from a merger of the Changi International Airport Services's airport security unit and that of other companies to become a single island-wide auxiliary police company. These officers man check-in counters to screen luggage, control movements into restricted areas, and so forth.

Since 2005, an upgrade in screening technology and rising security concerns led to all luggage-screening processes to be conducted behind closed-doors. Plans are also in place to install over 400 cameras around the airport to monitor passenger activity around the clock and to check on suspicious parcels and activity to prevent bomb attacks similar to the 2005 Songkhla bombings in Southern Thailand where Hat Yai International Airport was targeted. Tenders to incorporate such a system was called in late September 2005 ^[4].

Spain

Airport security in Spain is provided by different police forces, as well as private security guards. The Policía Nacional provides general security as well as passport (in international airports) and documentation checking. In Catalonia and Basque Country, the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Ertzaintza, respectively, have replaced the Policía Nacional except for documentation functions. The Guardia Civil handles the security and customs checking, often aided by private security guards. Local police provide security and traffic control outside the airport building itself.

Safety measures are controlled by the state owned company Aena, and are bound to European Commission Regulations, as in other European Union countries ^[5] <ref name="1546/2006" />.

United Kingdom

The Department for Transport (DFT) is the heart of airport security in the United Kingdom. Along with the Home Office in September 2004, it started an initiative called the Multi Agency Threat and Risk Assessment (MATRA), which was initially piloted at five of the United Kingdom's major airports - Heathrow, Birmingham, East Midlands, Newcastle and Glasgow. Following successful trials, the scheme has now been rolled out across 44 airports.

Since the September 11th attacks in New York, the United Kingdom has been assessed as a high risk country due to its support of the United States both in its invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Currently there are limits as to the size of hand luggage (regardless of what it contains), and the amount of hand luggage that can be taken on board, as well as passengers not being allowed to take liquids bought before the sterile area on flights. All bags are screened via X-ray before being put on the plane. All passengers must walk through metal detectors. Human airport security has also been increased. There are also the usual checks of passports and boarding cards. On-line check-in is also now in use.

Currently new methods of screening passengers are being considered to further improve airport security:

• Advanced X-Ray machines - Further developments in X-ray technology have meant that an entire 360 degree X-ray can be done of a person and can see under clothes, right down to the skin and bones.

Various criticisms have been brought up about this method. The latest X-Ray machines (Backscatters) are planned to be tested in several U.S. airports through 2005 and at London's Heathrow Airport. Due to their accuracy in looking under someone's clothes — genitalia have been displayed during tests, meaning it would be equal to that of a strip search — they will have to be carried out by someone of the same sex in accordance with strict rules. It is unlikely that everyone going through an airport would be liable to such a search.

United States

Prior to the 1970s American airports had minimal security arrangements to prevent aircraft hijackings. measures were introduced starting in the late 1960s after several high-profile hijackings.

Sky marshals were introduced in 1970 but there were insufficient numbers to protect every flight and hijackings continued to take place. Consequently in late 1972, the FAA required that all airlines begin screening passengers and their carry-on baggage by January 5, 1973. This screening was generally contracted to private security companies. Private companies would bid on these contracts, with the lowest bid usually being the winning one. The airline that had operational control of the departure concourse controlled by a given checkpoint would hold that contract. Although an airline would control the operation of a checkpoint, oversight authority was held by the FAA. C.F.R. Title 14 restrictions did not permit a relevant airport authority to exercise any oversight over checkpoint operations.

The September 11, 2001 attacks prompted even tougher regulations, such as limiting the number of and types of items passengers could carry^[6] on board aircraft and requiring increased screening for passengers who fail to present a government issued photo ID.

The Aviation and Transportation Security Act generally required that by November 19, 2002 all passenger screening must be conducted by Federal employees. As a result, passenger and baggage screening is now provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security. Provisions to improve the technology for detecting explosives were included in the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

With the increase in security screening, some airports were led to have extensive security lines. To alleviate some of the lines, airports created Premium lines for passengers traveling in First or Business Class, or those who were elite members of a particular airlines Frequent Flyer program.

References

See also

• Airline security
• Airport security repercussions due to the September 11, 2001 attacks
• Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System
• Registered Traveler
• Security theater
• CATSA
• SSSS
• Secure Flight

External links

• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
• Transport Canada
• US FAA
• US Transportation Security Administration