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ARINC Airport Solutions Showcased at Dubai Airport Show

May 11, 2014
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Rockwell Collins will be demonstrating the best features of their ARINC airport solutions at this year’s Dubai Airport Show on stand 8310.

“The Dubai Airport Show is an important platform for us to engage with new and potential customers – especially as we continue to invest and grow in the region,” said Tony Lynch, Middle East Director, Information Management Services for Rockwell Collins. “We’re looking forward to many productive meetings at the show, and demonstrating how our innovative airport technologies can help manage airport costs and improve processes.”

Rockwell Collins will be exhibiting highlights of the Airport Solutions package, with cost-effective shared check-in features, such as:

• Multiple airline support
• Cloud-based common check-in
• Touchscreen Wayfinding
• Airport Operational Suite – as part of the CDM initiative
• Security & surveillance solutions
• Legacy & CUPPS application support
• Common-use biometric passenger processing

All these features and more will provide advanced solutions for the airport of tomorrow, offering flexibility and enhanced operational activity with cost-sharing initiatives for all sized operations.

Shooting at LAX Raises Airport Communications Issues

April 15, 2014
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Measures to Upgrade Airport Communications SystemsAn investigation into the November shooting at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) that resulted in the death of airport security officer Gerardo Hernandez and the injury of three others, has highlighted airport communications issues and the need for enhancement in this and other physical security areas.

It is important that lessons learned from the tragic incident are used to review and improve security operations and make changes to bolster safety at not only LAX, but at airports across the country. Subcommittee chairman Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C. said that ‘communications breakdowns are not unique to LAX.’

The panel was told that co-ordination among ‘all relevant agencies’ and technical issues prevented the agencies from communicating directly with one another, taking more than 45 minutes before a cohesive plan could be put into action.

The incident is likely to put pressure upon authorities to implement technology to enhance airport communications and the interoperability of communications to ensure such an incident does not recur. Across the world, airport security issues are being raised, from passenger processing to physical security and perimeter fencing.

With technological advancements, information sharing and communications systems, there is a realisation that the solutions are available, yet action needs to be taken and investments made to ensure utmost security is held paramount in airports across the globe.

Advanced Passenger Information System Requested by IATA

April 4, 2014
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Advanced Passenger Information System ~ Find Out More...The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today called for greater use to be made of Advanced Passenger Information System data as the industry still reels in the aftermath of the missing flight MH370 search.

Director General of IATA, Mr Tony Tyler said, ‘It is important to remember that airlines aren’t border guards or policemen, the checking of passports is the well-established responsibility of governments.’ His comments were made at a conference in the Malaysian Capital earlier this week as he spoke of the need for a review of government data-review procedures, which would importantly include the comparison of names against Interpol’s lost and stolen passport lists. Although no link has been established with the two Iranian passengers that boarded with stolen passports and any terrorist organisation, the fact that they were allowed on board ‘rings alarm bells.’

In addition to Advanced Passenger Information System data, Mr Tyler, who is also a former chief executive for Cathay Pacific Airways, placed emphasis upon a need for better aircraft tracking. ‘In a world where our every move seems to be tracked, there is disbelief both that an aircraft could simply disappear and that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders are so difficult to recover,’ he said.

IATA plan to assemble a team of experts to study the available options for aircraft tracking, which is expected to reveal its conclusions at the end of the year.

Self-Service Bag Drop Solution for Finavia

April 3, 2014
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Self-Service Bag Drop Solutions ProvidersAll over the world, self-service and common use bag drop systems and check-in systems are promising ease of use and expedited passenger processing. Finavia has been using bag drop solutions in Helsinki airport in a pilot scheme since 2012 and now plan to expand the scheme with a further ten machines to be placed in Helsinki and two at Oulu Airport later in the year.

The success of the self-service bag drop solution has not been confined to Finavia, as the machines were in use by SAS and Norwegian airlines as well. Positive feedback has been received for all machines from passengers, airline and airport staff.

Ville Haapsaari, Director of Helsinki Airports said, ‘Increasing the number of machines is a global trend in air traffic services. Self-service, such as bag drop machines, makes the check-in times of passengers much more flexible, evens out the busy periods at the airport and increases the check-in capacity of terminals. More effectively produced airport services also provide airlines with cost advantages, which are also ultimately the precondition for moderate flight ticket prices’.

Automated self-service bag drop solutions carry the luggage from the passenger to the cargo hold with no other intervention from airline staff. Self-service check-in allows passengers to check-in online, attend the airport with less time to wait for the flight, drop off baggage with self-printing baggage tags and board the plane.

This is why scanning machines are critical to the success of the process. All baggage must still be checked enroute to the aircraft effectively and efficiently to minimise delays, while maintaining utmost safety.

Malaysia Tightens Airline & Airport Security

April 1, 2014
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While the reason for the disappearance of flight MH370 is still unclear, Malaysian Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein spoke earlier this week about the suggestion from investigators that the behaviour of the aircraft before vanishing from radar and radio contact was ‘consistent with deliberate action’ by someone onboard. Malaysia has agreed to ‘step up’ airline and airport security measures.

The comments followed strong advice from industry experts to consider better security measures across the world to minimise the threats against security. Malaysian Home Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that officials were re-examining security within airports and particularly at Kuala Lumpur International and consistently around airport security procedures and protocol for key entry points.

Malaysian authorities have confirmed that they do not check the Interpol database of lost and stolen passports, explaining that there are compatibility and speed issues with the system. This is in spite of the fact that the database contains more than 40 million entries. Early indications show that the stolen passports used to board flight MH370 had been reported missing more than 12 months before.

According to security experts, Malaysia could effectively enhance passenger screening with the use of current security measures if carried out correctly and efficiently without causing severe ground delays and by working with International law enforcement groups, such as Interpol.

“It’s very much the case that global organized criminal networks have exploited the lax government arrangements in Southeast Asia,” said Mr Carl Ungerer, lecturer of International relations at Australian Bond University, ‘Countries in the region should improve coordination between law enforcement agencies on intelligence sharing.’

‘We have increased security and enhanced monitoring procedures on board all our aircraft. However, for security purposes we are unable to discuss any such procedures publicly,’ a Malaysia Airlines spokeswoman said.

Disturbing Figures Raise Questions into UK Passport Checks

March 11, 2014
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More About Advance Passenger InformationIt has been revealed that as many as 20 million passports per year may not be receiving proper consideration in the UK alone. These shocking figures come as the Home Office estimated that only 90% of Advanced Passenger Information (API) is being received. API is passenger data that is electronically gathered and transmitted to government and border agencies for checking and comparison to international ‘at risk’ registers. API can detect high risk passengers on ‘no-fly’ lists across the world and can ensure that terrorist activity is kept at bay.

If these estimates tell us that 10% of UK API is not being received, this could spell an average of 20 million passports that are not being checked properly. Interpol say that countries are not doing enough checks against its list of stolen passports. Globally, this figure could reach up to one billion passengers; a disturbing figure.

API is mandatory for all passengers travelling to and from the US and has been so in the wake of the official investigation into the tragic events of 9/11. Last year, the EU questioned the use of API with regard to the privacy aspect and raised issues about the use of the information, once gathered and checked.

Once reported stolen, UK passports are cancelled and deemed unusable for travel. International stolen passports are entered into the Interpol Lost and Stolen Database, accessible by border security agencies for comparison.

The Home Office are looking into the figures to clarify the situation and are working towards improving coverage.

 

Predicted Automated Border Control and Baggage Handling Solutions Market Figures of $1.2 Billion a Year by 2020

February 11, 2014
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Providers of Automated Baggage Handling SolutionsSince 9/11, there is little doubt that increases in airport security and border control have swept the globe. As governments and border control agencies take technological advancements and solutions to border security into the 21st Century airports, not only have these biometric solutions improved security, but have indeed contributed to an enhanced experience for the passenger.

It is small wonder that market intelligence providers, Acuity, report that the automated border control eGate and kiosk market will generate over $1.2 billion annually by 2020. The analysts also predict that during the same year, automated border control systems will number more than 6,000 with 33,000 self-service kiosks and eGates deployed for baggage drop and check-in across all ports, including airports, land and sea.

Maxine Most, principal of Acuity Market Intelligence says, “Automated border control eGates and kiosks represent the customer-facing touch points to what promises to be a far more complex and highly interoperable 21st Century border management IT infrastructure.”

Automated border control providers can integrate the system of passenger processing and baggage handling both within the terminal and off-site, creating improved through-flow for the airport and greater efficiency, which in turn offers the passenger far greater flexibility. Common-use terminal equipment brings multiple airlines baggage and self-service check-in solutions to streamline operations, leading to cost-effective management and infrastructure.

UK Border Force Upgrade eBorders & ePassport Facilities

December 18, 2013
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Electronic Borders SolutionsIt has been announced that the UK Border Force have awarded a contract for the upgrade and installation of electronic borders solution – eGates – to Portugese company, Vision-Box. Vision-Box have previously installed 46 first generation eGates and will now deploy a further possible 180 new, second generation gates at airports across the country.

The second generation eGates are designed to make the most of limited space in today’s airports and in particular, immigration halls. The project will help to further enhance and streamline passenger processing, improving passenger experience and effectively increasing security aspects.

Gatwick airport is the first to announce completion of the installation of 15 new generation eGates.

Haroona Franklin, Director of Border Systems Strategy & Capability said that “this deployment will represent the biggest ePassport Gate project in Europe. The new gates will allow Border Force to improve the passenger experience while maintaining security at the border and enabling the effective deployment of our resources to areas of highest priority”

Electronic border technology is a fast-growing industry that maintains critical border security while enhancing and streamlining the process to provide greater productivity, improved efficiency and passenger experience.

Heathrow Tackle Delays with Electronic Border Management Solutions

September 19, 2013
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Electronic Border Management Solutions ProvidersAll over the world, airports have been wrestling with the notoriously difficult and time-consuming aspects of inner-terminal processes – departures.  The entire check-in process is laborious and exhausting for both passengers and airport staff and is the biggest cause of ground delays, queuing time and missed revenue.

It has to be said that the introduction of electronic border management solutions has made leaps and bounds on the road to improving this procedure.  Online check-in and bag drop kiosks are helping to streamline the check-in process and is bringing down waiting times.

London Heathrow has led the way in this field for a number of years, being the first to trial self-service check-in operations and multiple airline baggage handling and check-in solutions.  Passenger processing is fast-becoming ultra-efficient, reducing waiting times and significantly improving the entire experience for both passengers and airlines.

Mark Walker, Heathrow Airports Leader of the Passenger Processing Program says, “We’ve been taking quite a rigorous approach to exploring what good ideas we’ve got in-house or with our airlines, or indeed with industry best practices that are emerging, trialling some of those to really understand whether it is what our passengers want here at Heathrow, and then selectively deploying those technologies.”

Electronic Border Management encompass not just check-in and baggage handling, but also Advanced Passenger Information System solutions to allow government departments access to critical passenger data ahead of the scheduled departure.  Border Control Agencies are then able to spot high-risk passengers and expedite low-risk passengers, which also helps to streamline the process of check-in and boarding, minimising the risk of ground-delays.

Fiji Tightens Up Security with Integrated Border Management System

April 15, 2013
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Business Aviation News - Border Management Solutions

Business Aviation News – Border Management Solutions

This week saw the introduction of tighter security measures in Fiji as the Immigration Department implemented the new Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) at Nadi International Airport and every other entry point countrywide.

The Fijian Government awarded the contract for installation to Public Sector Solution of Informatics International Limit, a Sri Lankan company who implemented the IBMS, state-of-the-art technology with features designed to enhance passenger profiling and visual verifications that can assist in the identification of high-risk passengers.

IBMS will change the face of security and enhance border management system control, maximising efficiency and productivity with features including access to data, passport and citizenship information, visa and permit modules.

“It will allow for a quick flow of all of our immigration processes and ensure there is quick turnaround time for each passenger that enter or leave our country,” said Major Nemani Vuniwaqa, Director of Immigration for Fiji.  “It strengthens our security system at all of our borders and ensures that we find people that may, in the past, slipped through.”