An airport is like a mini village with people coming and going constantly. There are passengers and taxis, security staff and general personnel, baggage handlers and pilots. Who you let into a country and what they are carrying – that’s a big responsibility. Are passengers carrying weapons? How about drugs?
We’ve all read about incidents in airports, or planes being hijacked. With 911 the world has changed forever. The threat of terrorism is very real. So how can you make sure your airport is safe? It’s impossible to be 100% effective all of the time, but it is essential that every possible measure is taken on an ongoing basis. When financial corners are cut, precious lives are put at risk. This article provides a few guidelines for you.
Financial investment
The internet holds a great deal of data about everything, including airport security. When I was researching aviation security services, I discovered there are qualifications staff members can obtain. Training is a sound investment, as your people will be screening both people and baggage. They need to know what to look for. You will also learn from relevant websites that it is possible to buy specialized technological equipment. More on that later.
Whose responsibility is it?
When thinking about your airport, it’s best to begin at the highest level. Who is ultimately responsible for national security? In many countries, it is the state or a local organization that has responsibilities for its airports. It is a great asset to have permanent police presence and involvement. These days they come with dogs that can sniff out drugs or explosives. This can reduce the risk to human life. In politically volatile countries the military and paramilitary may also be present. At the lowest level, almost every airport will have security guards. Use what is available, and then add your own resources.
Drones
The issue of drones is a new one, but we have all read stories in the news of airports being temporarily closed due to the threat. Most airports don’t have anything that can detect them or monitor their whereabouts. Who is operating this drone? Is it a prank or a terrorist? A new area of vulnerability has been created. Great power is suddenly in the hands of someone owning relatively inexpensive equipment. This is a new but essential area to resolve, and technology is already being developed to tackle it.
Traffic
I mentioned at the beginning that airports are busy places. Vehicle congestion is a widespread phenomenon. If your airport can slim this down into a more organized and streamlined activity, it will be easier to control and monitor. Who owns that car? Why is that vehicle on the runway? Have mobile patrols working inside and out. Let your car park management be tight, and wheel clamping in force, ready to deal with any rogue vehicles swiftly.
Crowd control is an important thing to manage as well. In the past, friends and relatives were allowed on to the concourse to greet people as they arrived. These days, wisdom says to keep these areas off-limits. (That goes for airport ramps and operational areas too). If you can speed up the process between an airplane landing and taking off again, you can significantly reduce the risk of trouble. The same goes for queue sizes in secure areas. The key is to keep everything moving, and moving swiftly.
Simple things
Some steps can be taken at the very lowest levels. Consider glass bottles being used in the catering areas. Replace them with plastic and anyone who is up to something will have one less weapon they can use. Even plastic forks and other utensils can be used in a fight.
High-tech
You will need a lot of high-level technology to protect your airport. This includes such things as handheld metal detectors and devices that locate explosives. X-ray machines are also widely used for a number of purposes. Some recent technological inventions have meant people don’t have to remove an item of clothing – things can be detected regardless. That makes it less intrusive for your passengers. You generally have to balance inconvenience with safety.
Hackers
Cybersecurity is a global issue to be aware of. Hackers have even waded into airport waiting areas. People connect to what they think is the free airport wifi, only to have their phone details stolen by someone nearby. Technology is again being developed to protect people from this.
It seems like a massive task to protect an airport, and indeed it is. When the government can help, that’s great. When staff are well trained and qualified, that’s a plus. When you employ hi-tech at every level, that’s great too. Keep an eye on vehicle and people movement. Use security cameras everywhere. The benefits are not just for you and your employees, but for everyone coming in and out of the airport.
