Safe Passage Security Training Blog

Happy National Aviation Day! We know most everyone is impacted by aviation in some way, shape, or form. It has become such a big part of our lives. That’s why today celebrates the rich history and development of aviation.

The date August 19^th was selected as National Aviation Day because it holds special meaning. It coincides with Orville Wright’s birthday. Orville and his brother, Wilbur Wright, were credited with building the first successful airplane with aircraft controls to steer the plane.

Last week we learned about the flaperon that washed ashore at Reunion Island. The wing fragment was sent to France for official examination by an international team of experts. The world waited eagerly to find out whether or not the recently discovered aircraft debris came from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

Now 17 months after MH370 initially went missing, we finally learn of its fate. MH370 tragically crashed into the Indian Ocean. Sadly, we still do not know where the body of the aircraft lies or why it crashed. There are still many unanswered questions.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly referred to as drones, are increasingly gaining attention. Military use of drones has already been in operation for years. Regulations for commercial use of drones are currently being pushed by businesses. Recreational use of drones is on the rise among consumers.

It may be a sensitive topic, but these drones all share airspace with other military and civil aircrafts. Yet, no firm regulations and enforcement of regulations exist on a global scale for the aviation industry.

Aviation makes up a substantial part of the transportation industry. Its size, impact, integration and use by countries all over the world make it vulnerable to attacks. Over the years, we’ve witnessed persistent threats to aviation and recognize that they will continue as long as there are people who want to cause harm to the air industry.

The people organizing and carrying out criminal activities are rapidly becoming more sophisticated with their methods and techniques. That’s why we all need to be aware of emerging threats to aviation security.

Airline passengers arrive at the airport. They check their bags, get their boarding passes, and head towards the security checkpoint. At the sight of long lines, some travelers gripe. Others have grown accustom to the long lines and see it as a regular part of the airport routine to keep civil aviation secure.

Industry discussions about the future of aviation security checkpoints seek to improve the screening process. Using risk-based security principles, the goal is to offer the same level of security, but with less invasive screening processes and more connected technology systems to make the traveler experience easier.

Use of X-ray systems to scan belongings, mail, and cargo is widespread and can be particularly prominent depending on which industry you work in. To be proficient in detecting prohibited goods and dangerous items, constant practice over time is needed.

Organizations utilizing X-ray equipment know how crucial it is to provide screeners with this type of continuous training, especially as items and threats change constantly. That’s why they turn to X-ray simulators to supplement operator training. Let’s explore four fundamental characteristics of a quality X-ray simulator.

Port and border security - their presence can be observed in many countries around the world. As a traveler, you are likely to notice them at border crossings and checkpoints. They’re the ones questioning you about where you’re going, for how long, and what you plan to do there. However, their duties go far past what you typically see.

Border security agents and officers play an important role in securing a nation’s border and port of entry. They are the first line of defense in the fight against terrorism, drugs, and contraband. Every day, they process people, vehicles, cargo, and shipments entering their country – constantly making decisions about the people and items passing through.

In the past few decades, terrorist tactics have changed. Whether or not you were aware, targets of terrorist organizations and lone wolf radicals have shifted.

Previous attacks and attempts had been aimed at airlines carrying cargo and passengers. Lately though, targets have veered in a different direction – towards mass transit and critical infrastructure.

That’s not to say they’ve stopped targeting airlines altogether. We know terrorists are always looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities.

Every year as we approach summer, I see news articles, social media postings, and even talk radio exasperating about how bad the busy travel season will be. The focus is generally on the traveler experience. True, already busy and cramped airports will become even more busy and cramped during the high travel season. This makes the travel experience more stressful and most certainly less fun.

The security checkpoint is usually one of the most congested places in an airport. Thousands of passengers are trying to get from landside to airside as quickly and easily as possible. The passengers are generally a mix of seasoned travelers and seasonal travelers. The latter is usually excited to be getting underway while the prior is just trying to get through the system.

Security screeners play a huge role in helping both groups get through screening as safely and efficiently as possible. Who better to ask about little things passengers can do to make the screening process and the job of a security screener a little easier this summer season. So that’s what we did.

In the aviation security world, conventional X-ray systems are still the dominant technology used to screen baggage and cargo. The technology is proven, stable, and holds up well to the operational demands of an airport. However, one of the biggest challenges for screeners is trying to interpret what’s inside a passenger’s baggage using a ‘flat’ or two-dimensional (2D) image.

As three-dimensional (3D) X-ray systems continue to improve, we can expect more of them to be widely deployed at airports. Meanwhile, X-ray screeners will have to learn how to shift from 2D to 3D X-ray interpretation.