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| Aviation Security |
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Please click on the links below to view the contents of the respective sections.
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| Introduction |
Airport is a gateway to a country. The business of airport is to provide services to airline users and their belongings in a safe and efficient environment. Airport providing safe and efficient services will help contribute to economic growth of a country. Our Singapore International Airport is a hub for international air route. Over the years our Changi Airport has surfaced to be one of the best in the world and served as our gateway to Asia and other to regions. Singapore Airline has grown into one of the world’s leading passenger and cargo carriers.
Airlines perform transportation services for their customers, and their business is to transport them and their belongings from one given point to another safely. Ever since the introduction of the air transportation, the airports in the world had a rapid change with modern technologies. Air transportation has now become a more prevalent form of transportation. Therefore, traveling safely in an efficient environment in the airport has become an important issue in the airline industry. Most airline companies aligned to provide transportation services to the countries that they feel safe. Technologies have continuously been used to improve airport and their facilities. Digital technology applications with surveillance equipments are also moving in rapidly. The growth in air traffic has made t he service providers compete among themselves to provide the best and safe airport in the world.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has undertaken the task to develop and implement safety standard procedures to meet international requirements.
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| Threats that Comercial Airlines Face |
1. Sabotage in airport
2. Sabotage in aircraft by way of bomb
3. Air terrorism/terrorism at airport
4. Hijacking of aircraft
5. Attack by criminals
Threat in the civil aviation industry has been changed from hijacking of aircrafts to sabotage. Likewise terrorism and sabotage are some times interlinked. The person with criminal motives usually does air terrorism by sabotaging the airport or the aircrafts.
If one could do criminal activities in the airport, then there are a weak links in the airport security. Terrorist usually attacks aircrafts due to political, social and other criminal motives. Their objectives are to cause disruptions or physical damages. Terrorists usually use explosives like bombs to carry out their task.
Air traffic computer systems are the most vulnerable to be sabotaged. Computer operation systems usually have a weak authentication and are easier to penetrate. System that has weak access controls tends to be poorly configured and as such easily misused as soon as anyone gains the initial access to the systems. Safety vulnerabilities are also rampant, due to the usage of improper software and hardware. Effective security equipments with proper security systems will help eliminate criminal activities and prevent espionage. To prevent unauthorized entry, we must have proper access control systems. We must further ensure that identification passes are been issued to only authorize personnel.
Hijackers use the human life to bargain something that they may want to achieve. They prefer to “Transfer the threats” to countries that are less developed and unsafe.
“Transfer of threats” means, the hijackers may redirect the flight from the country of origin to a safer place to accomplish. The objectives of terrorists are usually for publicity, to demand the release of their compatriots or for political changes in their countries and assassination.
The National Aviation Security Programme (NASP) gives us the information on the terrorists “threat models” (likely target of the unlawful acts), and tells us how they usually carry out their attacks. Terrorism may not be totally eradicated, but with proper screening procedures and having restrictions for items to be carried onboard the flight can help to deduce the unlawful acts.
ICAO Annex 17 prescribe the list of items allowed to be carried by passenger onboard the aircraft.
The objective of the ICAO is to ensure the aviation industry developed in a safe and orderly manner. ICAO sets the following guidelines:
a) It is responsibility of each state to establish a national civil aviation security programme and must have the objective to act against any unlawful interference and sabotage.
b) To develop, implement and maintain comprehensive flexible and effective national programmes.
c) Security standard for departure area which includes pre-flight boarding gate (holding area) baggage and cargo security screening.
d) To establish security measures at airport terminal buildings and aircraft parking areas (Airport Staff Identification and protection of documents).
e) To take security measure airport in flights.
f) Security standard on each type of security device used in the airport.
g) Aviation security training scope.
h) Management’s response to unlawful interference and threat.
i) Communication and exchange of information and report.
The European Civil Aviation Organization (ECAC), which has members from most European countries, also works closely with the ICAO to promote coordination and develop better air transportation systems in the Europe.
Items that are permitted can be carried as cargo but they must be properly packed. Our prime consideration must always be safety. Leaks from item like batteries, wax or thermometers can help disastrous. It is advised that you are not allowed to take toxic or radio active action materials on board.
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| Clasified Dangerous Goods |
1. Weapons: Firearms, ammunition, gunpowder, mace, tear gas or pepper spray. Firearms and Ammunition will not be allowed by the passenger to carry onboard the aircraft.
However, unloaded firearms may be transported in checked baggage if declared to the agent at check in and packed in a suitable container. Handguns must be in a locked container. Boxed small arms ammunition for personal use may be transported in checked luggage. Amounts may vary depending on the airline.
2. Dry ice (4 pounds or less) for packing perishables may be carried on board an aircraft provided the package is vented.
3. Electric wheelchairs must be transported in accordance with airline requirements. The battery may need to be disconnected, removed, and the terminals insulated to prevent short circuits.
4. Fireworks, Signal flares, sparklers or other explosives
5. Flammable Liquids or Solids Fuel, paints, lighter refills, matches
6. Household items Drain cleaners and solvents
7. Pressure containers: Spray cans, butane fuel, scuba tanks, propane tanks, CO2 cartridges, self-inflating rafts
8. Other Hazardous Materials: Dry ice, gasoline-powered tools, wet-cell batteries, camping equipment with fuel, radioactive materials (except limited quantities), poisons, infectious substances.
9. Personal care items containing hazardous materials (e.g., flammable perfume, aerosols) totaling no more than 70 ounces may be carried on board. Contents of each container may not exceed 16 fluid ounces.
10. Matches and lighters may only be carried on your person and only limited amount are allowed to be hand carried onboard the aircraft. However, "strike-anywhere" matches, lighters with flammable liquid reservoirs and lighter fluid are forbidden.
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| International Air Transportation Association (IATA) |
International Air Transportation Association (IATA) came with (8) points similar to ICAO standard. The IATA has a wide range of interest in the safety and efficient operation in the air transportation industry
IATA (Point 1)
A holding area has to be established and the passengers and their baggage must be screened before entering the sterile area. We must ensure that proper facilities such as x-ray and explosive detection are available for screening of passenger and baggage. In Singapore, passengers and their baggage are first screened at the departure hall counter. In some countries, down-town check-in is allowed.
In Tokyo, you can check-in your baggage from the hotels. At the airport, the baggage will undergo three level of security screening. The baggage then goes through explosive detection and x-ray screening. Before boarding the aircraft, you are required to identify your baggage. In Singapore you are allowed to check-in down-town only if you are traveling without baggage.
The second check point is before the passengers enter the Immigration Check points. The officer at the entrance checks the passenger’s boarding pass with the passport.
At the third stage, the Immigration officer will try to verify and screen the person's passport with photograph and name.
Finally, before entering the holding area or the sterile area all passengers and their hand carried baggage will screen through X-Ray. A high security standard must be maintained before entering the holding area. The officer at the X-Ray machine must be will trained to identify dangerous goods like bomb and objects. All other person entering the sterile areas must be authorized and have proper security control.
IATA (Point 2)
Communication with the passenger must be direct and discrete. The officer on duty must be able to respond quickly to any unlawful action.
IATA (Point 3)
Authorized law enforcement officers armed with communication equipments must be made available to patrol within the Airport vicinity.
IATA (Point 4)
To ensure that areas of restrictions are clearly marked. Install proper access control systems and proper fencing at the perimeters areas to avoid unauthorized entry. To ensure proper control at the airside and only marked vehicles and authorized person(s) with passed are allowed at the airside areas. Ensure that high safety standards are maintained at the apron areas.
IATA (Point 5) To ensure at all identification passes are visibly worn by the person(s) entering the airside and identification is checked at the access control point before entering the airside. In Singapore, passes are renewed regularly within every three year.
IATA (Point 6)
To ensure that physical barriers are installed. Public area is separated from the baggage and cargo areas. Proper facilities such as x-ray and explosive detection are available for screening of passenger, baggage and cargo.
IATA (Point 7)
To ensure that the aircraft parking areas are adequately protected and controlled with proper lightings.
IATA (Point 8)
Ensure all public viewing areas overlooking the airside are adequately protected with surveillance camera.
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| Cargo Secuirity |
Threats facing aviation security may not be in the form of terrorist attacks only. Cargo areas are also attractive target and as such they are also vulnerable to attacks. Cargo thefts and Criminal attacks are very common in the Airline industry.
Several cases were reported on the said matter. On April 1994 in Malaysia, at Subang Airport Airbus, gold bars worth about US $300,000.00 were found missing from the flight. On August 1994, 1.8 million RM were stolen from the Subang Airport Strong Room. On 24 Jun 1998, at Lago International Airport, aircraft was robbed before it took off.
Three-quarter of the space occupied in the passenger airline is cargo. If cargo can be taken out, similarly, explosives can be planted in the aircraft using cargo. Therefore, the aviation security must also show serious concern about Cargo areas.
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| Guarding and Searching Acess Control Areas |
We must ensure all vehicles together with their content are effectively searched. All authorized staff/personnel are issued with identification passes and with proper access control systems. In Singapore, identification passes are issued different colors and in accordance to their areas.
The security and physical layouts for the warehouse are equally important. We must have procedural policy of the warehouse must be closely monitored. Whenever the warehouses are not been used, the roller shutter must be down at all time. Proper surveillance cameras with access control systems help to minimize theft and eliminate undesirable behavior. In November 1994, it was recommended that all cargo agents at CAC to comply with the six crime preventive measures for handling vulnerable cargo and all warehouse are inspected half yearly by the Airport Police.
1. All items of high value to be stored in the Security Cage or Room with locks and Keys and only authorized personnel are allowed to gain access to the said place.
2. A supervisor or Senior Storekeeper supervises the loading and unloading of the vulnerable goods.
3. Stock Checks and Physical Inspection of vulnerable cargo must be done daily during changing of duty or shift.
4. Install a CCTV system inside the Security Cage or Room to monitor and record movements of all persons entering or leaving the room.
5. Enclosed vehicle to be use to convey vulnerable cargo to and from the freight terminal.
6. All field staff involved in the cargo movements must be is in uniform for easy identification of unauthorized personnel.
In Singapore, the authority works in collaboration with the ground agencies. The authority together with airline and ground agencies formed up CAC Crime Prevention Advisory Committee to monitor crime situation at the CAC. They give rewards to informers who work within the organization.
Airport plays a key role in enhancing the economy of a country. As such the physical security with procedural controls and the reliability of the aviation infrastructure must be thoroughly integrated.
Whatever systems and procedure they adopt, the cargo always becomes vulnerable when system breakdown. Proper physical structure and procedural control against theft and effective screening will help eliminate criminal activities.
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