Airport Business

MAY 2017

The airport professional's source for airport industry news, articles, events, and careers.

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SECURITY 42 airportbusiness May 2017 By Benét Wilson Provide Secured Access For Airports Getting the right mix of policies and procedures in place can enhance security while minimizing queues. On Nov. 1, 2013, a gunman opened fire in Terminal 3 of Los Angeles International Airport, killing a TSA officer and injuring others. And on Jan. 6, a gunman opened fire in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2 at Fort Lauderdale– Hollywood International Airport, killing five people and injuring six others. A bomb attack at Brussels Airport on March 22, 2016, killed 32 people and three of the bombers, with more that 300 others injured. Another bomb attack happened at Turkey's Istanbul Atatürk Airport on June 28, killing 45 and injuring more than 200 others. These attacks have airports around the world on high alert, constantly working on plans to ensure the safety of the traveling public. Orlando saw changes in the past 16 years, like rairports in the U.S., said Brian Gilliam, director of security at Orlando International Airport. "The challenge has been and continues to be the never-ending attempts to plug securi- ty vulnerabilities and respond to new security threats," he said. "Our airport was originally built to move people and baggage as quickly and efficiently as possible, but now we must try and achieve that goal while layering on more and more security processes and requirements." The Los Angeles Airport Police works close- ly with TSA and has established requirements to implement security background checks for airport and airline employees, said Rob Pedregon, the public information officer for the Los Angeles Airport Police Department. "Through this process, initial and recurrent background checks are made. This Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badging process is conducted prior to granting une- scorted access to any sterile area of the air- port," he said. Together with TSA, the Los Angeles Airport Police conducts random screenings of employees as they enter restricted areas, said Pedregon. "For unpredictability, these screen- ings vary in times and locations." The Los Angeles Airport Police has a unit to enforce TSA rules and regulations, said Pedregon. "The Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Unit independently and collab- oratively conduct audits of employees and S ixteen years after 9/11 and the cre- ation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), airports are still working to balance passengers' desire to have a hassle-free experience with the need to guard against all potential threats.

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