Israeli aviation security – only some elements are visible

Israeli aviation security – only some elements are visible

iStock_000001991719XSmallThe security apparatus that protects Israel’s civil aviation companies on the ground and in the air is probably the biggest in the world when related to the size of the country.

This accomplishment results from multiple attempts to hijack Israeli and foreign airliners carrying Israelis and tourists on their way to Israel, and blow them up in the air.

Ground security operations are divided between those at Ben-Gurion International airport in Tel-Aviv that is applicable to all airline companies and to the security measures surrounding Israeli aircraft from touchdown in a foreign airport, until takeoff.

At Ben-Gurion airport, only parts of the measures are visible. What is very distinct is the profile system that each passenger undergoes before boarding a flight. This system is based on a set of “characteristics” that determines the level of risk posed by each passenger. With all the new technology and the airport is full of it, the profiling is still the most trusted way to catch the bad guys.

New technology instrumentation is installed at the airport only after being approved by a special lab of the general security service. Most of it is operated behind the scenes.

As part of a multi-year plan to improve the security process and the flow of passengers, a special hold baggage screening (HBS) system will be installed. The system was especially designed for the requirements of the Israeli airport authority (IAA) and was recently approved by the general security service. This is the body that coordinates the security of the Israeli airports and aviation among other things.

An “Army” of unarmed and armed security personnel patrols the terminals and other sensitive areas. This method is backed by hundreds of closed circuit cameras connected to a main security command post.

The IAA has been evaluating unmanned ground vehicles to help in patrolling the airport perimeter. One vehicle that has already undergone testing is the “Guardium” made by G-nius, a joint company of IAI and Elbit systems.

Cargo is also considered a very acute threat by Israeli security experts. Last year, the Israeli general security service, has identified the potential threat posed by courier packages flown by dedicated or passenger airlines. Measures were taken but are classified.

It can be assumed that technology and intelligence are involved. Some Israeli companies have developed systems that are aimed at improving the screening process of passengers’ baggage as well as packages sent by courier services.

Some major airports in the U.S. are using the I-Screen system for optimizing the screening of passengers’ bags. SpaceLogic, the Israeli Company that developed the system has revealed limited information about it.

The special “data fusion” software involved is interfaced with all the sensors and procedures involved in the security process aimed at clearing a passenger and his baggage before entering the plane.

Shalom Dolev, the company’s VP for security systems said that the IACAO “future security check point” for passengers, resembles the concept of the I-Screen system. “There is increasing interest in our system but I can not reveal current and potential customers.”

After the 11th of September Israeli authorities decided to increase the “control verification” of aircraft heading to Tel-Aviv. This occurred after fighter aircraft were scrambled on several occasions when there were signs that something in the cockpit of arriving aircraft was deemed “unusual”.

The highly classified “Code Positive” system was developed by Elbit systems and was designed to allow Israeli ATC to verify that an aircraft heading for Israel is not hostile. The plan was to give special cards to all pilots that regularly fly to Israel, ‘smart cards’ capable of verifying a pilots’ identity. A special control center was set up to receive the output of the system and clear each aircraft.

After a trial period in which U.S. Airways, Delta, Continental, Air Canada and Ethiopian Airlines all agreed to take part in the pilots phase, opposition was raised by the European commission as well as IATA and IFALPA.

These organizations claimed that the Israeli system might create discriminatory disadvantages and impediments to the development of air services to Israel, without providing a satisfactory increase in the level of security.  Recently the ministry of transport decided to cease the use of the system. Many security experts have criticized this decision.

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