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Airport Security Loop Holes

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Mid Term Assignment of

Corporate Aviation Security




Program:
BS Aviation Management
6
th
Semester


Course Instructor:
Sir Nadeem Ansari



Submitted by:
Saqib Mehmood BAM-9207
Arslan Aslam BAM -9234
Ibrahim Tariq BAM-9239


Superior University, Lahore.



Investigating Exteinal anu Inteinal Secuiity
Loop holes of aiipoits locateu in Pakistan



This document discusses security loop holes (security lapse areas) at airports located in the territory
of Pakistan to draw the attention of airport management to take necessary measures to overcome
the arising issues. This would be useful to avoid any criminal activity or chemical acts on airports
located in the territory of Pakistan.
Airports are busy places like bee hives because the era after the World War II has increased the
trend to air travel and after bombing in Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 and September 11, 2001 the
terrorist attack in USA, more safety measures were made by FAA through conducting research on
advanced security technologies to enhance security at airports world wide.
The aim of this document is to notify the airport management to external and internal security loop
holes so that appropriate measures would be taken to overcome these security lapse areas. This
document is concern about airport management and government; Civil Aviation Authority or Airport
Security Force (ASF).












After devastating bombing in Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 and September 11, 2001 the terrorist attack
in USA, aviation security has become area of focus in the world. Wells and Young ( 2004 ) mentioned
that the most significant issues facing by the airports in the 21th century is airport security, airport
security concerns all areas and all users of airports, not limited to travellers , airport police force etc.
There are some threat vectors that could be harmful to airport property personnel at there and fleet
(aircrafts) these threat vectors are passengers, flight crews, mail, cargo (couriers) and ground
technicians (workers). Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan (CAAP) provides security to all civil
airports (some joint users) through a department of airport security force (ASF). After taking
different measures regarding security, some security loop holes are investigated at airports
especially at international airports. Airport security includes both the land side and air side security.

External Security Loop holes
There are some external threats to airport security in Pakistan.
1. Attack can be made through fence of airports.
2. Small air traffic of flying schools and charter airplanes.
3. Bomb fitted vehicles can attack airport entry gates.
4. Any aircraft can be attacked from houses near the airport premises.
5. Any person from outside can do self blast attack.

1. Attack can be made through fence of airports
Every airport has a fencing wall along with its boundary. At some airports in Pakistan, there is an
external threat to fleet or personnel in airport premises due to inappropriate fencing wall or
spoiled fencing around the boundary. Anyone can enter in the airport boundary and hit the
plane with throwing grenades, by shooting with a gun or sniper on fleet. At Allama Iqbal
International Airport, Lahore, there is a threat of hitting to taxing aircraft due to spoiled
boundary wall and from Askari 10 (a housing colony near the operations area) and Hajj terminal
near the parking area where external threats can be enter to destroy fleet.
2. Small air traffic of flying schools and charter airplanes.
At some international airports and small aerodromes air traffic of flying schools and charter
airplanes land and take off by student pilots during flying solo or with their instructors. There is
a security loophole on airports that any plane of flying club can be threat by doing activity like
hijacking, carrying any explosive material to destroy the property and other fleet parked on
airport parking area or direct hitting on fleet etc. A student pilot can carry dangerous chemical or
a weapon that is harmful. After landing of aircrafts, student pilots are not checked for security
reason.
3. Bomb fitted vehicles can attack airport entry gates.
On the entry of the airports there is no such equipment or scanner which can detect explosive
material packed or inside the vehicle. The vehicle which contains explosive material can cause
heavy damage to the entry of airport and vehicles parked in the parking. As there are so many
cars parked there if any blast occur they as a whole will make a big blast which can cause
damage to airport building.
4. Any aircraft can be attacked form houses near the airport premises.
The houses near the airport premises are included to security loop hole. Anyone can damage
fleet when aircraft are in approach phase on populated areas and during takeoff. Someone can
shoot aircraft on their wing (fuel tanks). The area nearest to the airport should be free from
population. At Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, aircraft during its final approach and
during takeoff (when in severe weather; used runway 18 to airborne) fly above populated areas
and anyone can cause for bad impact on safety and security of passengers.
5. Any person from outside can do self blast attack.
A person with explosive material can enter the airport and can be very harmful to the airport. As
there is no proper security check for the motorbikes at airport. And then he can use any fake
ticket or boarding pass to enter the terminal area. If he does blast himself, this can cause
damage to airport and many humans. This act can affect the international flights and oversees
passenger also which will be a big lose for our government.

Internal Security Loop holes
There are some internal threats to airport security in Pakistan.
1. No proper security check at very first entrance
2. No K-9 team
3. Non availability of any explosive detection device at airport
4. No positive passenger bag match procedure
5. Un authorized person under protocol
6. Unqualified ASF personnel

1. No proper security check at very first entrance
As we enter the airport premises the very first check post is not reliable and up to the mark. Any
terrorist may enter the parking area by showing fake ticket and fake card. They dont have
proper metal detectors. The security personnel at first entrance dont have very strong
perception power. They judge the person by physical look but not on the security reasons.
Although they have car scanner at gate but they dont have explosive detectors at entrance gate.
2. No K-9 Team
If any person wants to board on airplane with an intention to smuggle drugs form one plane to
another, he can do this because the anti narcotics authorities dont have K-9 dogs team to
detect any drugs at airports. This is a big threat.
3. Non availability of any explosive detection device at airport
Explosive detection system is not used at airports in Pakistan. Usually conventional X-RAY
machines are used for screening the passengers checked baggage. Carry on articles are also
checked through X-RAY machines. But these machines are not able to detect the explosive in the
baggage of passenger. A criminal or terrorist can bring any explosive materials (RDX. TNT, C4,
PMNT etc.) at airport and to an aircraft for terrorism. No advance deployed technologies like
Trace Explosive Detection Device (TEDD), Bulk Explosive Detection Device are deployed at
Pakistan airports.
4. No positive passenger bag match procedure (PPBM)
Some airlines applies a method called Positive Passenger Bag Match (PPBM) procedure in which
passengers match their checked baggage and is loaded on to an airplane until passenger also
boards. The purpose of this system is to check and match the baggage of passenger. The extra
baggage that is not of passenger cant not enter the cargo portion of airplane. This system in not
implemented at Pakistani airports. This is another threat by which bomb or explosive or any
ammunition can transfer to airplane.
5. Un authorized person under protocol
Some unauthorised persons can get access under the protocol of authorized persons. They can
enter in a sterile area where written Out of bound for unauthorized persons. They can be
their relatives and someone else. Unauthorized persons can carry drugs any explosive material
and transfer to other place on sensitive area.
6. Unqualified ASF personnel
The airport security staffs is not educated, they even dont read the ticket and any identification
card of a person. They are not able to understand English written on tickets or visas and on
cards. This is also an internal security loop hole to airport, passengers and fleet at there.

Suggestions to improve airport security
There should be proper fence wall along the airport boundary and security guards at
security check posts should be alert during duty time.
Flying aircrafts of flying schools should be properly checked before going to flight.
It should be ensured that airport is planned and developed on area free from population
during the process of airport planning and if aerodrome is located at congested area,
less turning should be made near populated area.
There should be properly check on motorbikes entered the area of airport.
There should be experienced persons at very first entrance and they have very strong
perception.
Drug detectors dogs should be present.
There should be any explosive detection device to screen baggage and ASF personnel
should be educated; not illiterate persons, even they can read and understand English.
PPBM should be available and every person should be properly checked when entering
airside. Unauthorized persons should not be allowed to enter airside under protocol of
authorized person.

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