Airports Council International (ACI) World has highlighted the need for effective regulation that provides room for innovation in aviation security.
Speaking at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) third annual Global Aviation Security Symposium (AVSEC), ACI World director general Angela Gittens emphasized the importance of proactive mitigation measures supported by effective risk assessments.
“Threats change quickly. Airports, aviation stakeholders and governments face challenges in trying to implement effective security measures in a timely manner,” Gittens said. “To keep pace with such changes, security regulations should be performance- and outcome-based, rather than overly prescriptive.”
“In other words, regulations should determine the objective to be reached, but not define in detail how it should be reached. This approach should be coupled with strong oversight and a collaborative approach.”
Gittens added that governments should conduct impact assessments and consult with the aviation industry before implementing new measures. This risk-based approach can be applied in all areas of security, from perimeter protection to insider threat, passenger screening to airport supply chain, she added.
“Innovations such as artificial intelligence, the increasing use of big data, and stand-off detection could radically transform our approach to aviation security. These are the kinds of solutions best-suited to the challenges of tomorrow, and regulators must provide the framework to make them a reality,” Gittens concluded.