Continent is not assuming that America is the only target for global terrorism
Europe is no safer than the USA against global terrorism, according to Airports Council International - Europe (ACI-E) security chief Natalie Marchiolo Holzer: "Security has become the top of all priorities." As soon as the reality of the 11 September events became clear, checks at European airports were tightened. But while the USA closed its skies to all civil aviation for two days, the rest of the world flew nervously on.
Feverish activity aimed at co-ordinating security measures across Europe and the rest of the world is being set up. The 38-nation European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) abandoned its plan for a scheduled 20-21 September meeting and instead is focusing exclusively on security. ECAC president Alfredo Roma says he has asked for a security report to present at the following week's ICAO Assembly.
In Europe, Marchiolo observes, airports rather than airlines are the providers of the basic passenger and baggage security checks, whereas in the USA, airlines often own their terminals or gates and provide their own security. There will be a security meeting for ACI-E member airport leaders during the week following the ECAC forum.
Other differences between Europe and US domestic security relate to the fact that the activities of terrorists organisations like the IRA (for the UK) and ETA (Spain) have forced some European countries to develop security systems well above ICAO basic standards.
Individually, European nations and airports have clearly reacted to the call to ramp up safety. France and Greece have acted by implementing national security plans, involving the protection of civil airports and military bases. France's so called "Vigipirate" plan - designed for significant emergencies - has involved deploying military personnel at major civil airports and heightening the security state at military bases. Greece has made the ramp-up indefinite.
Common factors everywhere include an increase of police and/or military patrols at airports, and the rate of manual baggage searches has been upped. Aeroporti di Roma, Italy, is implementing 100% carry-on bag hand-searches.
UK airport operator BAA has implemented government regulations by confiscating any blade longer than 20mm (0.8 in), "even knitting needles". Passengers are undergoing a double security check, once before immigration and an additional check at the departure gate. Transfer passengers through the UK must recheck in.
At Frankfurt Airport, Germany, border police are operating armoured car patrols.
Zurich Airport says every piece of cargo is now subject to high-altitude in-flight air pressure (designed to test for barometric detonators) in a dedicated building set up after the bombing of a Pan Am Boeing 747 in 1989.
Spanish airports were in a heightened state of security before last Tuesday's events, as ETA had targeted Spanish airports during the tourist season. However, Spain's transport minister, Francisco Alvarez-Cascos ordered an increase in airport security immediately after the events, which include increased police patrols and more stringent identity documents checks for internal flights.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held an "aviation meeting" on the of 12 September, calling together Aeroflot and other major airlines, and officials from the safety agencies MAK and GSGA. The Russian civil aviation authorities ordered "more careful inspection of baggage". Meanwhile Aeroflot has removed all escape axes from rescue kits aboard its airliners.
On the other side of the world, Hong Kong International Airport says it is employing "heightened vigilance" and is complying with the additional security measures requested by the US Federal Aviation Administration for all flights to the USA. These include hand checks of all carry-on baggage and a ban on belly freight and mail on passenger flights.
Source: Flight International
