Airport Security

Terrorism has been a problem for airlines and air travelers, when hijackings and bombings became the method of choice for criminals, militant organizations around the world. Although security at airports had always been tight,for instance the 9/11 attacks woke many people up to a harsh reality. it wasn't tight enough!

The challenges and risks to the aviation industry have been growing rapidly. As it grows, International civil aviation has suffered a series of attacks targeting airlines, airports, and other civil authorities, resulting a need of security at airports.



Airport Security

Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting passengers, staff and aircraft which use the airports from accidental/malicious harm, crime and other threats.

Large numbers of people pass through airports every day. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime because of the number of people located in a particular location.Similarly, the high concentration of people on large airliners, the potential high death rate with attacks on aircraft, and the ability to use a hijacked airplane as a lethal weapon may provide a target for terrorism, whether or not they succeed due their high profile nature following the various attacks and attempts around the globe in recent years.

Airport security attempts to prevent any threats or potentially dangerous situations from arising or entering the country. If airport security does succeed in this, then the chances of any dangerous situations, illegal items or threats entering into both aircraft, country or airport are greatly reduced. As such, airport security serves several purposes: To protect the airport and country from any threatening events, to reassure the traveling public that they are safe and to protect the country and their people.



Airport Enforcement Authority

Some countries have an agency that protects all of their airports. In other countries the protection is controlled at the state or local level. The primary personnel will vary and can include:

-A police force hired and dedicated to the airport
-A branch of the local police department stationed at the airport
-Members of the local police department assigned to the airport as their normal patrol area
-Members of a country's airport protection service
-Police dog services for explosive detection, drug detection and other purposes

Other resources may include:

-Security guards
-Paramilitary forces
-Military forces



Process and Equipment

Some incidents have been the result of travelers being permitted to carry either weapons or items that could be used as weapons on board aircraft so that they could hijack the plane. Travelers are screened by metal detectors. Explosive detection machines used include X-ray machines and explosives trace-detection portal machines. Explosive detection machines can also be used for both carry on and checked baggage. These detection systems given off from explosives using gas chromatography.

A recent development is the controversial use of backscatter X-rays to detect hidden weapons and explosives on passengers. These devices require that the passenger stand close to a flat panel and produce a high resolution image.

Generally people are screened through airport security into areas where the exit gates to the aircraft are located. These areas are often called "secure", "sterile" and airside. Passengers are discharged from airliners into the sterile area so that they usually will not have to be re-screened if disembarking from a domestic flight; however they are still subject to search at any time. Airport food outlets have started using plastic glasses and utensils as opposed to glasses made out of glass and utensils made out of metal to reduce the usefulness of such items as weapons.

Sensitive areas in airports, including airport ramps and operational spaces, are restricted from the general public. Called a SIDA (Security Identification Display Area), these spaces require special qualifications to enter. Systems can consist of physical access control gates or more passive systems that monitor people moving through restricted areas and sound an alert if an restricted area is entered.