Airport operators give security a pass, allow entry in key areas

Mumbai: While aviation security measures are being constantly tightened in a terror-afflicted world, the Indian ministry of civil aviation doesn't seem to be overly bothered about hijackers, terrorists and their ilk. In a startling move, it has relaxed a vital security norm to give airport operators the power to issue three-day temporary airport entry passes which give the holder access to sensitive areas both in the terminal and the aircraft operational area.
More shocking is the fact that the private commercial companies which run airports can issue these passes without even informing government security agencies like the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the local police. There is no upper limit on the number of temporary passes an airport operator can issue in a day; these passes can even be issued to individuals who are not employed in the aviation industry. The temporary passes can also be issued during periods of heightened threat perception or on and around sensitive dates like January 26 and August 15. The new norm violates the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as well.
The controversial proposal was mooted by BCAS (the sole agency responsible for aviation security in India) on April 15, when its commissioner wrote to the ministry of civil aviation. The ministry cleared the proposal within a month and, in a letter dated May 14, ministry of civil aviation director L Rajasekhar Reddy gave his green signal. TOI has a copy of the ministry letter, which allows an airport operator to issue a temporary airport entry pass for a period of one to three days without a background check or verification of the applicant by any security agency.
09/06/10 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2010, Safety Jun 2010