Safe Passage Security Training Blog

The United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union, popularly known as Brexit (British Exit), was decided on June 23^rd 2016. More than 33 million people came out to vote on the referendum with 51.9% voting in favor of the change.

The UK now needs to notify the EU of its intention to formally leave by filing under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Finalization of this separation could take up to 2 years or more. How will Brexit impact the aviation industry in the short and long run?

There are many threats that exist in our world. One of which is terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political, social, or criminal gains. International terrorism and domestic terrorism both fall under this umbrella.

Recently though, it seems as if domestic terrorism has been on the rise. We hear more and more about homegrown terrorists causing devastation within their own nation. The threat is all too real and it’s happening right here in your own country.

Security screener shortages and increased passenger volume at the airport - doesn’t make for a good combination, does it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is facing at the moment.

The recovering economy and low price of airfare has boosted the volume of passengers flowing through airports. This uptick is wreaking havoc on the busiest US airports including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and New York since passengers are unable to get through security fast enough. The strain is being felt on everyone including passengers, airports, and airlines.

Many companies rely on X-ray systems to screen items arriving at or passing through their facility. The items these security screeners typically observe varies depending on the industry and whether belongings, cargo, or mail are being screened. For instance, screeners inspecting visitor belongings at a courthouse would experience different throughput than those inspecting passenger luggage at an airport.

Because of this, some companies would prefer to customize simulator training by adding their own X-ray images. To do that, an image capture is required. Here are some best practices for conducting your own in-house X-ray image capture.

Most airports have numerous screening checkpoints situated in different areas of its facility. Passenger, cabin baggage, hold baggage, cargo, and non-passenger screening are typical checkpoints.

These airport checkpoints screen and process people, belongings, and cargo nonstop to prevent the entry of prohibited and dangerous items. Let’s briefly run through the different types of security screening checkpoints typically found at airports.

For security screeners, being able to identify threats and prohibited items under X-ray is an important responsibility. To aid in this task, some may agree that learning how to identify everyday objects is almost equally important since most items inspected are innocent. Think about it. How beneficial would it be for security screeners to recognize and clear innocent everyday items quickly and efficiently? A rapid check over of the X-ray image is all it would take for a skilled screener. That’s why practice recognizing everyday objects alongside threats and prohibited articles is encouraged.

Brussels was rocked by terrorism this week. On the morning of Tuesday, March 22^nd, two explosions hit inside Zaventem international airport and a third just a few miles away at Maelbeek metro station. The attacks have tragically left at least 30 people dead and hundreds wounded. These attacks come days after Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam was captured in the suburb of Molenbeek by Belgian authorities. It is believed the two incidents are related.

Airports operate multiple checkpoints for the different items and people passing through. These checkpoints aim to keep threats, drugs, and prohibited items out of secure areas. Perhaps the most recognizable airport screening checkpoint is one experienced by travelers firsthand – the passenger screening and cabin baggage screening (CBS) checkpoint. This checkpoint processes millions of passengers daily and as a result, collects a fair amount of prohibited items. Let’s examine some commonly confiscated items seized by airport security at the passenger checkpoint.

Aviation is a complex industry that is constantly growing. According to IATA, over 3.7 billion passengers will fly this year. In a day, approximately 100,000 total flights take place and more than 16 billion USD worth of goods travel by air.

The global aviation industry is heavily relied upon by many and the demand for air travel will only grow. In fact, experts predict it will double over the next 20 years. That’s why security has and will always remain a top priority for those in aviation. So what types of challenges related to security does the industry face today?

Presently, passenger screening is controlled by the individual airports conducting it - each responsible for the security of their facility and the passengers moving through. Unfortunately, not all airports have the same level of security. Some fall under par while others go above and beyond.

Because of this inconsistency, a very early concept has been thrown around the industry. This concept asks us to take a look at security screening through a hub and spoke perspective. Roughly, this means sending passenger aircrafts to airports with established security controls for screening before heading to their final destination. Could this idea work or would it make situations even more complicated?