Physical Security in Rural Airports and Private Aircraft - Research Paper Example

Physical Security in Rural/Small Airports and Private Aircraft The airports and aircrafts being responsible for assisting passengers to travel from one location to another by air; it becomes the responsibility of the airport departments and the aircrafts to undertake proper security measures for the safety of the flights as well as the aircrafts. However, since the protection measures are provided with some level of freedom under the General Aviation rules and several airfield responsibilities being involved, often it becomes difficult to maintain the physical security to be maintained at the commercial passenger airports, thus creating several challenges for the team working in the field. The following study has focused on the importance of physical security in rural/small airports and private aircrafts, thereby trying to throw light on what measures could improve the current status of the physical security measure. The study has thus included the significance of the physical security, the potential impacts as well as outcomes of different measures available to be undertaken taking into consideration different views and opinions of researchers. Introduction: The background to the greater concern on the physical security of airports and private aircrafts can be traced back to the incident of the Pan American World Airways Flight 103 tragedy in the year 1988 (Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports, 2004, p.3). However, with the terrorist attacks in the US in September 11, 2001, the threats and the risks associated with the aviation enhanced to greater levels (What to do? A global strategy, 2004). The attacks that could be coordinated with the use of aircrafts that acted as the human bombs had severely increased the threats to the mankind in general. However, in general it had thrown light on the lack of security on the part of the airport and aircraft departments that could be taken advantage of by the terrorists. With the occurrence of the massive disaster, the aviation security measures were found to significantly increase including measures like effective screening of baggage as well as passengers, examining the strengthening of the doors of the cockpit, the number of the aviation security officers been increased and enhanced control over the access to airports and private aircrafts (Poole, 2008, p.2). Thus to introduce the study, it can be stated that the need for physical security of the small/rural airports as well as private aircrafts have more increased with the risks and threats of the terrorists planning to take advantage of the lack of security. The history of the security measure reflects on why and how the physical security has become so important and significant of concern for any state or country. In the further sections, the study would reflect on the importance of the topic, critically analyzing the considerations of the physical security related to aviation in the present day. This would in turn throw light on the future policies as well impacting the society as a whole. Importance of the Understanding of the Physical Security in Rural/Small Airports and Private Aircrafts: Earlier in the times when the airports in the rural areas were being formed, the issue of the physical security of the small airports or private aircrafts was not much of concern. Hence the understanding of such an issue was never much required for study. However, this lack of concern has now proved to be of danger for such small airports since they are susceptible to misuse of the lack of security measures. The increasing rates of crimes in the world as a whole has cropped up the necessity of realizing the importance of the physical security measures, and so has the studies related to the issue become very important. In regard to the rural areas and smaller airports, the concern arises more since it was previously believed that the rates of crimes in such rural areas are much lower in comparison to large airports. With such a view the security measures have been more lacking in the small airports thus throwing light on the need of greater understanding of the severity of the issue (Gardner, 2002, pp.1-3). From the above mentioned status of the rural areas and the small airports being built there, it can be analyzed that the increasing rates of crimes enhance the need for understanding of the physical security of both the airports and the aircrafts in order to be able to prevent the terrorists and other attack groups to take advantage of the aviation power over the society. Clearly, the study and understanding of the issue proves to be important and significant enough to be taken concern of by those small airports in the rural areas that have not yet taken the necessary steps for protection. Considerations for Physical Security: The Present and the Future: As mentioned in the previous sections, the need for the physical security of the airports, particularly the small airports as well as the private aircrafts having being increased with the increase in the rates of terrorism, it can be understood that the considerations for such security measures are of more concerns in the present times, and would be required further in the future for the preparation of strict policies as decided by policy makers of a nation. By physical security, it is actually meant that the airports and the private aircrafts would be protected from any illegal action or illegal misuse by any individual or group for their wrong purpose of activity. The threats are mostly obtained from the terrorism and the consequent attacks. Many times news reflects on the cases of hijacks, or bomb attacks on the aircrafts. These are possible only with the lack of the security measures. With the increasing strict measures related to checking of passengers and baggage, as well as security associated with the entries and exits should be capable of achieving greater levels of protection in such cases. The Current Status: As studies reveal, before the September 11 incident, the federal government was more concerned with the security of the scheduled flights only and not much concern was put on the other factors related to the aircraft and the airport. In the present times, this view has altered. With the understanding of the importance of the security measures, now the governments take measures of security concerning the entire areas of an airport. This includes any area or point that might prove to be reachable and susceptible to attacks of terrorists. However, variations have also been obtained depending on the airport and the purpose of the aircraft. For instance, TSA or the Transportation Security Administration believes that a single manual of security might not prove to be relevant and successful for all sizes airports. Thus, airports that are in the rural areas or are smaller in size might reflect difference measures of security (Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports, 2004, p.4). However this implies that there is a need for understanding that even though sizes might vary, yet the vulnerability of the airports and private aircrafts do not vary depending on sizes. If the smaller airports are given less importance in terms of security, chances are there that terrorists would focus on those areas instead of the larger ones. The Present Status Reflecting on the Future Policy Making: Post the incident of September 11, 2001 several changes have been obtained in the aviation security measure, particularly in the countries of the United States. However, reports on the relevant changes considered also reflect on the fact that the measures have been significantly kept secret and not visible to the public in general. Gradually with the demand, strategies have been concerned where publicly available measures have been considered. Such reports present to the world the effective strategies that the government have undertaken looking forward to the enhancement of the security systems (Elias, 2009, pp.1-4). All these facts focus on the future policy makers to consider and be more aware of including the small airports of the rural areas as well along with the private aircrafts for the purpose of ultimate protection and prevention of terrorist attacks possible through the misuse of the aviation facilities or lack of security. Thus the difference in the measures being incorporated now and those needed to be focused on for the future greatly suggest recommendations for not considering the smaller airports to be less important of the need for physical security. A Comparison of the Past with the Present: While in the past the concerns were much less in regard to the security policies in smaller airports and for private aircrafts, that scenario seems to have altered in the present day. Now, there are significant concerns for enhanced security systems. However, the smaller airports are still not given the equal importance as it should have been. Even in case of large airports, lack of measures could still be obtained. A report of the United States Government Accountability Office reflects on their study on several airports in the nation. As a consequence of their study, it has been observed that although multiple security measures were present in the 13 airports that were visited, yet the possible susceptibilities varied among different airports. Several of these airports claimed to have introduced and followed the measures as initiated by the GAO. However, when GAO visited, they had found the airports lacking in those measures (Security Assessments at Selected Airports, 2011, pp.1-4). The different security measures that can and needs to be actually implemented include perimeter fencing, controls at designated access points, lighting around perimeter, lighting at designated access points, lighting around hangars, hangars locked and secured, aircraft locked and secured, on-site law enforcement or security, transient pilot sign-in sign-out records, intrusion detection system, CCTV cameras in areas related to unauthorized access, passenger and baggage screening, package and cargo screening, and back-up power supply (Security Assessments at Selected Airports, 2011, p.8). However the lack of emphasis on several of such measures from a report obtained in the year 2011 only reflects that the basic difference in the past and the present has been on the level of concern and thinking. Considering the actual implementation of the measures, there is still lack in the process. Concerning the Private Aircraft: This also creates concern on the fact that if the large airports in a nation present such picture of lacking concern, the small airports or airports in the rural areas can be naturally understood to be cases of more neglect. In regard to the security measures of the private aircrafts, concerns and measures have been undertaken by the DHS or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. DHS has strictly increased the protection measures for private aircrafts that was earlier not visible to this extent. Now the DHS has focused on the publication of NPRM or the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that gives significant stress on determination of detailed records of the aircraft owner as well as of all the flights that the aircraft undertakes. Also, a note on the persons boarding on the flight is kept in concern. In order to achieve this security process effectively, DHS has decided upon working in different phases that would divide the relevant duties accordingly (Government Securtiy, 2007). Thus comparing the past and the present situations in regard to the physical security of small/rural airports and private aircrafts, it can be viewed and obtained that although several measures have been undertaken, yet the security measures for airports still prove to be lacking in many of those measures. On the other hand, measures associated with private aircrafts seem to be more effective and reflected towards the real cause of concern. This in general provides an understanding that small/ rural airports are still in need of greater concerns over the security measures in order to lessen the misuse of the aviation industry in the attacks demonstrated by the terrorists. Significance and Potential Impacts of the Issue: In regard to the United States, it has been obtained that the nation’s economic conditions are to a great extent dependent on the aviation services, reflecting on several commercial purposes of the country. The attacks of the terrorists and the particular incident of the September 11, 2001 had significantly raised the issue of threats and risks that the aviation industry had been under (National Strategy for Aviation Security, 2007, p.2). The significance of the issue can be realized from the potential impacts that such terrorist attacks tend to have on the society as a whole. A plane crash is known to take the toll on several lives affecting the families of so many. If proper security measures are lacking even in the small airports, it proves to be a vulnerable state of condition for a nation. The aviation industry can be realized to be internationally relevant and complex in nature as well. Thus the responsibilities to be undertaken for the purpose of security can be understood to encounter several challenges. However, considering the potential impacts and the significance of the issue, the governments of different nations should come together to fight the terrorists by implementing the strict security measures not just in theory but in practicality (National Strategy for Aviation Security, 2007, p.23). It can here be mentioned that the lack of security in such cases would only result in the loss of the common people’s lives that needs to be a primary cause of concern for every nation to prevent. If the cause can be truly realized and justified, it can be expected that the steps would get into effect more sincerely and efficiently. Ramifications for the Issue: The only major step that can solve the problem and fear of risks is the increased security measures in each and every airport that should significantly take into consideration the small airports located in the rural areas and the private aircrafts. In the U.S., enhanced security systems are already reflected through the checking of passengers, screening of baggage, and other related checks as have already being discussed. These steps are the responsibilities of the Transport Security Authority and hence needs to be considered effectively by the team. Physical searches, body scans, collection of all relevant data of the passenger, are some of the processes that are strictly maintained without any lack in the process can be expected to enable a successful physical security system for small airports as well as private aircrafts (Checking In- Your privacy rights at airports and border crossings, n.d.). The Integrated Customs Enforcement System that is prevalent in the security process has already proved to be significant in collection of all relevant information of an individual who takes up a flight on the flight concerned (Checking In- Your privacy rights at airports and border crossings, n.d.). Thus more focus can be thought of being placed on the authenticity of the data and information been provided by the individual. The most important factor that the study reflects on is that there are strict and variety of security measures that are available for the physical security of the airports and aircrafts, but there is lack of effective concern that gets reflected on the lack in the process. Thus more significantly, this lack of concern needs to be removed and the available measures should be applied effectively for the achievement of the desired objectives. An Opinion Based View on the Study: Based on the study concerned as above, an opinion can be drawn that would be focused on the delivery of the responsibilities of the people in concern. The study has revealed two highly significant points. Firstly, there has been improvement in the decision making in regard to the physical security of airports and private aircrafts from the past till the present day, affected by the disastrous incident of September 11, 2001. Secondly, although several effective measures have been thought out, they are not being implemented successfully as of yet, and there is a lack of concern still prevailing for the small size airports and airports in rural areas. On the other hand, the security measures for the private aircrafts have been obtained to be successfully implemented in the present day. Thus, in tune with the researchers’ view as well, it can be opined that the governments of different nations should come together with the intention of not letting the aviation industry being misused and hence perform the available measures effectively such that a safe and protected aviation department might work out for the betterment of the society as a whole. Conclusion: The study has been particularly focused on the physical security of the small/rural airports and private aircrafts. It has obtained from the study that in the earlier times, the activities of terrorists not being so effective and disastrous, the concern for the physical security of airports and aircrafts was not much to be found. However with the occurrence of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in the U.S., the concerns regarding the physical security have arisen to greater extents. Greater number of security measures has been thought out many of which are currently followed in several airports across the world. The cause of concern still remains since it has been obtained that small/rural airports are still to some extent not given an equal importance. This might prove to be of great danger if the terrorists realize the weakness of the governments’ thinking. Moreover, lack of concern has also been obtained in the large airports as well in regard to their physical security measures. The development of security measures related to the private aircrafts has on the other hand been significantly brought into effect. Thus to conclude the study, it can be said that in order to successfully protect the aviation industry from being misused by the terrorist groups, the available measures need to be applied effectively irrespective of the size and location of the airports. References 1) “Checking In- Your privacy rights at airports and border crossings” (n.d.), GC, Retrieved from: http://www.priv.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_45_e.cfm 2) Elias, B. (2009). National Aviation Security Policy, Strategy and Mode-Specific Plans: Background and Considerations for Congress, Congressional Research Service, FAS, Retrieved from: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL34302.pdf 3) Gardner, R.A. (2002). Physical Security Manual and Checklist, crimewise, Retrieved from: http://www.crimewise.com/airport/manual.pdf 4) Government Security (2007). DHS Launches Initiatives To Strengthen Private Aircraft Security, americancityandcounty, Retrieved from: http://americancityandcounty.com/security/transportation/private-aircraft-security 5) “National Strategy for Aviation Security” (2007), FAS, Retrieved from: http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-47.pdf 6) Poole, R.W. (2008). Toward Risk-Based Aviation Security Policy, OECD, internationaltransportforum, Retrieved from: http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/jtrc/discussionpapers/DP200823.pdf 7) “Security Assessments at Selected Airports” (2011), GAO, Retrieved from: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11298.pdf 8) “Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports” (2004), TSA, Retrieved from: http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/security_guidelines_for_general_aviation_airports.pdf 9) “What to do? A global strategy” (2004), National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 9-11commission, Retrieved from: http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Ch12.htm Read More