MONTREAL, Canada - At the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last week, Airports Council International (ACI) World outlined its long-term vision for aviation security. ACI World published its vision as some 700 international aviation security professionals met in Montreal for a series of events exploring the future of aviation security including an Industry Engagement Day, the Global Aviation Security Symposium, and the Second High Level Conference on Aviation Security.
ACI World Director General Angela Gittens presented three papers to the High Level Conference on Aviation Security where senior government officials and invited representatives of international and regional organizations formulate recommendations on key aviation security priorities, namely:
· Vision for Aviation Security at Airports
· Joint Approach to Border and Aviation Security Threats at Airports
· ACI’s Contributions and Updates to the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP).
The Vision for Aviation Security at Airports was produced in partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and promotes the efforts that the aviation industry is making to identify themes, innovations and developments that will affect airport security in the long term.
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“With growing passenger numbers, airports simply cannot keep creating more space and adding more and longer queues to accommodate more layers of screening measures,” Gittens said. “We need to find ways of being smarter about security and recognize that there is not one solution for all airports. All airports and aviation stakeholders must work together to ensure innovative and integrated solutions are in line with regulatory requirements and are tailored to the unique conditions and facilities of the airport.”
The paper identifies new and emerging themes in airport security, including off-airport handling of passengers and bags to minimize required processes at airports, walk-through, seamless, stand-off security from curb to gate for passengers, and whole-of-airport security to secure the overall airport infrastructure from a range of current and evolving threats.
“In the future, it is expected that interactions with staff at airports will be centered on customer friendly tasks while machines will perform most screening activities,” Gittens said. “Security screening will be based on risk assessments and advanced screening technologies that allow for effective and efficient detection of a greater range of threats in an ever-evolving threat environment.”
Detailing its ongoing contribution towards the Global Aviation Security Plan, ACI committed to take a leading role on the Smart Security program following years of fruitful partnership on the program with IATA. The program has delivered positive change in the effectiveness, efficiency and customer experience of primary passenger screening checkpoints.
“The Smart Security initiative has been successful in piloting, monitoring and drawing lessons from various new initiatives that have been implemented at passenger checkpoints to deliver strengthened security, increased operational efficiency and a better passenger experience,” Gittens said. “We look forward to leading this project as its second wave continues to develop detailed guidance on emerging technologies and processes.”
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