Counter Terror Gazette

Leveraging investment in airport security: focus on human factors!

25 Oct 2010

Leveraging investment in airport security: focus on human factors!

New research project to improve profitability of airports through improving security

Haifa, September 20, 2010 – How do security arrangement really work and is there any room for improvement, even after huge investments in airport security in the last decade? To find out, the European Community has co-funded a ground-breaking research project to provide the answers. In this FP7 research project, named BEMOSA, a pan-European Consortium focuses on describing real behaviour in order to develop innovative world-wide airport staff training programs that provide breakthrough advancements in real-world crisis handling and hazard reduction. The objective of the training programs is to mesh current procedures with actual security behaviour. This is a critical point as having an emergency plan in place does not automatically mean being able to manage a security crisis as crises by their very nature is dynamic and in many cases difficult to predict. The expected result of the project will be increased security, reduced false alarms and increased profitability.

The airport industry has recognized of BEMOSA. Among others, BEMOSA is invited to give a presentation to the ACI EUROPE Aviation Security Committee during in Airport Exchange 2010 (http://www.airport-exchange.com/). More than 100 airport authorities are will be represented at this event, which is one of the most important events during the year. Through this presentation, BEMOSA will be able to share its breakthrough research a large segment of the airport authorities in the world.

Prof. Alan Kirschenbaum, a world expert in disaster management and initiator and coordinator of the BEMOSA, said that he is “very excited about the opportunity given and the recognition received. In our discussions with the ACI EUROPE Aviation Security Committee, we identified the current gaps in our knowledge and practice. As we all know, security-related incidents occur truly incidentally and far from apart. But when they occur, they can be devastating in both human and material expenses. Airport staff has to be absolutely ready to handle them.” Prof. Kirschenbaum continued that ”at that critical time, there may be no time to consult a supervisor or handbook. In order to prevent and handle with emergencies, we must ensure that our airport staff – and not only our security staff – remains alert and motivated, in short: to remain “sharp”. Alertness and motivation are two key tools in providing security, in addition to skills and expertise to respond immediately to a security threat or incident. That is what BEMOSA is all about.”

The BEMOSA Consortium is looking forward to discuss this ground-breaking research at Airport Exchange 2010 with the stakeholders of the industry in order to establish the channels that the outcome of this research project can be adapted.

BEMOSA (“Behaviour Modelling for Security in Airports”) is a European wide research project that is co-funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Union (Call Identifier: FP7-TRANSPORT – AAT.2009.5.2.3 – Grant Agreement: 234049). Please visit our website at http://bemosa.technion.ac.il