Enhanced Aviation Security Package
Airport Security Screening Procedures
Download airport screening procedures video Screening individuals and their luggage prior to entering aircraft boarding areas plays an important role in ensuring that our airports and aircrafts remain safe.
This video presentation, shown at airport screening points, informs travellers, and their friends and family accompanying them to the boarding areas, of the screening processes they need to participate in and the reasons why they are necessary.
Educating travellers on security procedures plays an important role to achieving safe air travel for all Australians and our tourists. This presentation has been produced as part of our commitment to improving Australian airport security.
Improving the security of regional aviation
Security programs for regional airports and aircraft
A wider range of operators will be required to develop and put in place security programs. This will include all regular passenger transport operators, charter operations and private or corporate jets, as well as freight aircraft operators. Airports servicing these aircraft will also need to have a security program in place.
Actual security measures identified in the security programs for each airport and aircraft operator will be based on individual risk assessment.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government will assist operators to understand the security assessment process and how to develop security programs that meet their specific circumstances.
The Departments' Transport Security Investigators will be auditing compliance and undertaking random compliance checking to ensure that security programs are being properly implemented.
Aviation Security Identification Cards (ASICs)
Aviation Security Identification Cards (ASICs) will be required to be held by staff at certain airports servicing passenger and freight aircraft.
In order to obtain an ASIC, applicants must undergo a police records check and a security assessment to determine whether a person poses a politically motivated violence threat in the aviation environment.
The extension of the ASIC system will counter attempts to place terrorists as employees in the aviation industry and will ensure wider coverage of background checking of people working in security sensitive areas in Australia's airport environment.
Hardened cockpit doors
All regular passenger and charter aircraft with 30 seats or more will be required to be fitted with hardened cockpit doors. This will reduce the risk of hijacking of aircraft by protecting against attempts by passengers to gain unlawful access to the cockpit. The Australian Government will fully fund implementation of this measure on non-jet regional aircraft.
Improving Freight security
Better security for air freight
The Australian Government will put in place greater compliance monitoring and enforcement of the current Regulated Agents Scheme and extend the scheme to domestic air freight.
Currently the Regulated Agents Scheme ensures that air cargo exported from Australia is subject to security controls through freight forwarders and courier companies operating in accordance with approved security programs.
Air freight security is recognised internationally as an area needing further strengthening. The implementation of a more effective screening program for air freight would provide considerably enhanced levels of security for the aviation sector.
New freight screening technology
The Australian Government will conduct a field trial of new freight screening technology to assess its suitability for use within the Australian aviation sector.
Customs will construct a facility in Brisbane to trial world-first neutron technology developed by CSIRO that promises rapid detection of explosives and other threats in air cargo more effectively than conventional x-ray systems. The technology is non-intrusive, minimising the impact of security on the rapid movement demanded by the air freight industry. It is estimated the technology will scan an air freight container in less than two minutes. Import and export air cargo containers in Brisbane are to be screened at the facility.
General Aviation
Aircraft theft measures
Practical measures to mitigate against the risk of theft are necessary for operators of general aviation aircraft who are not required to develop and implement security programs. Measures will be determined by individual owners of aircraft and could include fitting auxiliary locks (for example to propellers or prop controls), securing aircraft in hangers or fitting door locks.
Background checking and licensing of pilots
All pilots and trainee pilots will be required to undertake background checking prior to being issued with new photographic licences.
Ensuring that pilots and trainee pilots are subject to security checking will reduce the likelihood of persons who might pose a threat to aviation gaining access to aircraft through legitimate means like undergoing training and progressing through other licensing requirements.
The Departments' Transport Security Investigators will be auditing compliance and undertaking random compliance checking in relation to aircraft theft measures and pilot licensing.
Other initiatives
Intelligence/Information Collection and Dissemination
The Australian Government will put in place additional capacity at major airports to ensure effective intelligence collection, dissemination and liaison. The Government will also develop an aviation security information collection and dissemination capacity in the South East Asia and Pacific regions.
This additional capacity will provide valuable information to relevant authorities in relation to the adequacy of security measures and activities or persons potentially impacting on the security of the Australian aviation sector.
Inspector of Transport Security
The Australian Government will establish of an Inspector of Transport Security to investigate major incidents or systemic problems in aviation and maritime security.
The position will effectively separate the regulatory and major incident investigation functions.
Coordination arrangements between Australian Government agencies
Coordination arrangements between Australian Government agencies with transport security interests will be enhanced through the creation of a central policy committee and an Australian Government security agency committee at each major airport.
The security agency committee at airports will not replace the operator convened airport security committee but will ensure better coordination of the work of Australian Government agencies at airports including intelligence dissemination and cooperation with industry on security matters.
Areas of further work
Checked Baggage
Screening
The Australian Government will work with the aviation industry to extend arrangements for checked baggage screening.
Aviation Law Enforcement Programs
The Australian Government has requested relevant agencies to conduct discussions with major airlines regarding arrangements for the Aviation Security Officer program.
In addition, the Government will further consider arrangements in relation to the Counter-Terrorist First Response program and will be discussing the question of community policing at airports with the states and territories.