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Union de Transports Aeriens Flight UT 772: the Gadaffi connection

18 Apr 2011

Against the backdrop of the current seismic political uprising occurring in Libya, Daniele Klein reviews the tragic demise of UTA flight 772, the impact on the families who lost their loved ones and the extent to which Colonel Gadaffi’s regime is responsible for the tragedy that has often been unfairly eclipsed by the loss of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie.

Aviation Security Quality Control: striving for excellence

18 Apr 2011

Annex 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), is the primary source of Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for the establishment and management of a State’s national civil aviation system, by addressing preventive and responsive security measures. The fundamental challenge for the establishment and management of such a civil aviation security system is to create an aviation security regime that is highly effective in preventing acts of unlawful interference and ensures compliance with specific regulations but does not unduly interfere with the efficiency of civil aviation, impose excessive costs or intrude unnecessarily into private rights or civil liberties. Diana M. Stancu outlines the national aviation security quality control system as envisaged by ICAO and considers various stakeholders’ responsibilities for providing an effective and robust system.

Checkpoint Ergonomics: the human makes the difference

18 Apr 2011

Technology deployed at different screening checkpoints can deliver markedly different outcomes in terms of throughput, detection rates and false alarms. Throughput can vary by as much as 50% from checkpoint to checkpoint, even when the same screening technology is being used. In some cases, the benefit of investing in new technology that, in theory, should have enhanced throughput or detection is negligible, with the outcome, in practice, being no different from the equipment it has replaced. The fact is that any security screening system comprises of more than just the screening technology itself. It is a system that is reliant upon the performance of the security officers and the behaviours of passengers. As Anthony Bridges discusses, the integration of the human factor and the application of ergonomics to system design are critical to the system’s effectiveness.

Evaluating the Unattended Bag: avoiding terminal evacuations

18 Apr 2011

Over six million passengers pass through airports every day[1], each carrying at least one item. Some of these items are placed, dropped, lost, abandoned or otherwise left unattended. Every time this happens the area around the item should be evacuated to 100 meters, preferably three hundred. Remembering that blast is spherical, the areas above and below should also be cleared and all gas, electrical, and other utilities closed off. As a result, business continuity plans should be initiated to cover the disruption and the knock on effects to flights around the world. Obviously, this does not happen every time an item is left unattended. The item could be a bomb or, more likely, lost property or rubbish. The skill is being able to tell the difference, to implement the appropriate response options, and to be able to justify the decisions made. Donald S. Williams outlines the key question in relation to unattended items as to “why would we think this item poses a hazard?” and how it may be answered.

MANPADS Countermeasures: flares, infrared beams and computer software

18 Apr 2011

For a few years, in the aftermath of incidents in Baghdad and Mombasa, the industry became overtly concerned that terrorists might try to bring down commercial aircraft using man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) or rocket propelled grenades. Anna Costin investigates the technological options available to safeguard aircraft against such a method of attack.