CRITICAL SECURITY AREAS EXPAND

A common definition for the critical areas under security control at airports came into force in the EU on January 1st 2006. At Helsinki-Vantaa the entire area under security control has been determined as critical. At present the critical area also covers, for example, the passenger piers, the departure gate area, the pedestrian ways leading from the terminals to the planes, the terminal buses and other vehicles, and the interiors of aircraft.

The critical section of the security control area will expand from July 1st 2009 to include baggage handling areas and conveyor equipment. Helsinki-Vantaa has already adopted the regulation since the beginning of 2006. The regulations are in line with efforts to harmonise and improve aviation security in all EU countries.

In practice the new regulations mean that all passage into the critical area can only take place through the security control points. Staff entering the controlled area must be inspected every time, just like the passengers. All personal identity cards will be checked, while spot checks will be made of permit-holding vehicles. All vehicles without permits will be checked whenever they enter a security area or its critical sector.

“As far as logistics are concerned, the only feasible model at Helsinki-Vantaa is to turn the entire security area into a critical area,” said CAA security chief, Tuomo Kivikari. “It’s the most sensible solution, although it did require more work and training at first.”

“We shall try to introduce the changes so that they cause as little disruption to air traffic as possible. Initially this will take up more time and resources than usual but once we get used to it I am sure the new practice will meet requirements.”