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FIRST PART
CHAPTER I. Definitions.
Chapter´s I objective.
Provide the theme´s main definitions.

Introduction.
In order to understand the topic´s meaning results necessary splitting both
words that compound the short clause: ¨airport security¨, so giving the definitions
about what an airport, a security and finally an airport security is, the topic could
be showed clearly.

Airport´s definition.
An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport.
Airports often have facilities to store and maintain aircrafts1 such as airplanes, helicopters,
airships (including blimps2), gliders3, and hot air balloons.
An airport consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space
including at least one operationally active surface such as a runway for a plane to take off
or a helipad, and often includes adjacent utility buildings such as control towers, hangars
and terminals. Larger airports may have airport aprons, taxiway bridges, air traffic control
centers, passenger facilities such as restaurants and lounges, and emergency services4.

Security´s definition.
Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercive
change) from external forces. Beneficiaries (technically referents) of security may be
persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems, and any other entity or
phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change by its environment.
Security mostly refers to protection from hostile forces. The term is also used to refer to
acts and systems whose purpose may be to provide security: (e.g. security forces; security
guard; cyber security systems; security cameras; remote guarding)5.

Airport security´s definition.

1
An aircraf is a machine that is able to fly by gaining support from the air.
2
A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is an airship (dirigible) or barrage balloon without an internal structural
framework or a keel such as a zeppelin.
3
A glider is a heavier-than-air aircraf that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its
lifing surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Most gliders do not have an engine,
although motor-gliders have small engines for extending their flight when necessary with some being
powerful enough to take off.
4
"Airport – Definition of airport by Merriam-Webster". Retrieved 1 September 2015. from an online webpage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport
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Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in an attempt to protect
passengers, staff and planes which use the airports from accidental/malicious harm, crime,
and other threats.
Aviation security is a combination of human and material resources to safeguard civil
aviation against unlawful interference. Unlawful interference could be acts of terrorism,
sabotage, threat to life and property, communication of false threat, bombing, etc.6

CHAPTER II. Airport´s security compounds.

Chapter´s II objective.
Provide the main airport´s compounds and the security type applied on each
one.
Introduction.
In this chapter we are knowing the main areas where all airport operations
take place in, and how security is applied in all these areas.

Airport´s compounds7.
Terminal. A Terminal is a building with passenger facilities. The terminal has a
series of gates, which provide passengers with access to the plane.
The following facilities are located inside of most terminal´s area:
 Airport check-in, is the process whereby passengers are accepted by an airline at
the airport prior to travel, is usually the first procedure for a passenger when
arriving at an airport
→ Check-in security The airline check-in's main function, is to accept
luggage that is to go in the aircraft's cargo hold and issue boarding passes.
Passengers need to follow instructions and ask about special accommodations
such as seating preferences, inquire about flight or destination information,
accumulate frequent flyer program miles, or pay for upgrades. Passengers
must register their baggage. The baggage allowance, if any, is prescribed by
the airline and anything in excess will warrant additional surcharges.
At the time of check-in, one of the agent's primary duties is to check for valid
documents. This includes tickets, passports, visas, letters of consent, and in
some case, passengers address and contact details to comply with immigration
requirements. In this part passenger must provide true information to the
agents and don’t forget to have their boarding pass and ID handy.
5
Online Etymology Dictionary. "Origin and meaning of secure". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
from an online webpage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security
6
Volokh.com Airport Security, Retrieved November 27, 2007. from an online webpage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_security
7
Retrieved October 22, 2018 from an online webpage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_security#Process_and_equipment
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 Passengers screening. Travelers are screened by metal detectors and/or

millimeter wave scanners. Explosive detection machines used include X-ray
machines and explosives trace-detection portal machines.
→ Passengers screening security Airport security agents attempts to prevent any
threats or potentially dangerous situations from arising or entering the country. Airport
agents screening the baggage looking for any dangerous or illegal items or threats
entering into an aircraft, country or airport. The primary personnel involved in this
process will vary and can include:
 A police force hired and dedicated to the airport.
 A branch (substation) of the local police department stationed at the airport

 Members of the local police department assigned to the airport

 Members of a country's airport protection service
 Police dog services for explosive detection or drug detection.

 Handling packages or baggage security signs. Exist many different symbols

to allow handling and transporting goods safely. The most commons are the
wine glass label that lets you know the item(s) inside is “fragile.”
The two hands cupping a cube, mean that you should “handle with care” due to
the contents are more than likely fragile. If you see the picture of fire, you must
know the material inside is “flammable.” The image of two upward arrows
above a box indicates, “This way up.”
 Security rules followed by Freight and cargo transportation by
transportation companies or warehouses. A tariff code is a product-specific
code as documented in the Harmonized System (HS) maintained by the World
Customs Organization (WCO.) Tariff codes exist for almost every product
involved in global commerce. Required on official shipping documents for tax
assessment purposes or to indicate if the custom is forbidden in any country
that’s why this code is pretty important for importation or exportation since a
country decide if any custom is secure or not for the country according to its
tariff code. Most of them are regulated to protect the security of population or
national companies.
A complete tariff code is no less than six digits and can be up to 10. The more
digits in a tariff code string, the more specific the product it identifies. These
codes are usually used by importers, transportation companies an airport
agents8.
 Airport´s security operations. Pilots follow instructions to land from the Air
traffic control (ATC) which is managing aircraft movements and making sure
they are safe, orderly and free of delays. At all airports the use of a traffic
pattern (often called a traffic circuit outside the U.S.) is possible. They may help
8
Retrieved October 22, 2018 from an online webpage https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/sri/glo-
tarcod-itl.page
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to assure smooth traffic flow between departing and arriving aircraft. Generally,
this pattern is a circuit consisting of five "legs" that form a rectangle (two legs
and the runway form one side, with the remaining legs forming three more
sides). There is also a Ground control which is responsible for directing all
ground traffic in designated "movement areas", except the traffic on runways.
Among the vehicles that serve an airliner on the ground are:
A tow tractor to move the aircraft in and out of the berth.
A jet bridge (in some airports) or stairs unit to allow passengers to embark
and disembark.
A ground power unit for supplying electricity. As the engines will be switched
off, they will not be generating electricity as they do in flight.
A cleaning service.
A catering service to deliver food and drinks for a flight.
A toilet waste truck to empty the tank.
A water truck to fill the water tanks of the aircraft.
A refueling vehicle.
A conveyor belt unit for loading and unloading luggage.
A vehicle to transport luggage to and from the terminal.
Finally here we have some general suggestions to improve security´s
passengers and in general most of the important process done in an airport
by subjects.
1. Don’t bring more than 3.4 ounces (or 100 milliliters) of any liquid.
2. Mandatory follow instructions from signals or airports agents.
3. Don’t forget to have your boarding pass and ID handy.
4. Don’t wait to take off your belt, watch, jacket, and shoes.
5. Don’t remove items you don’t need to remove.
6. Don’t wear sandals.
7. Don’t overlook less busy checkpoints.
8. Mandatory follow signal and airport agent instructions. Not to argue.
9. Don’t joke about national security or bombs.
10. Don´t carry illegal or forbidden customs such as weapons, drugs, big
quantity of medical drugs, hard identification customs, big quantities of
money, live animals, tools, magnets, flammable items, radioactive or
biohazard customs, human remains, sprays or tanks with any kind of gas. 9
11. Use adequate clothes such as boots, reflecting labels clothes if you are
handling freight and cargo customs.

9
Retrieved October 22, 2018 from an online webpage https://www.smartertravel.com/10-things-not-airport-
security/