Introduction

Thomas Gnau and Holly Shively observed in their article titled “More American Airlines

flight cancellations reported Tuesday morning” (2018) that a series American Airlines flights

were canceled on Tuesday, 19th June 2018 due to cybersecurity issues with PSA Airlines. It was

feared that the cybersecurity issues resulted from hacking. However, PSA airlines emphasized

that the cybersecurity issues were not caused by hacking where the manager promised the

stranded passengers of intended drastic repair on its regional carrier’s computer systems. Upon

further investigation into this issue, I feel that the PSA airlines lack a good Airport Security

Coordinator considering that the carrier’s computer system has taken longer to stabilize.

Airport Security Coordinator

Notably, the Airport Security Coordinator is tasked with the support of the airport security

division by ensuring that it complies with security requirement under the regulation of Airport

Rules and Regulations, Security Directives, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and

Airport Security Program. The duties and responsibilities of the Airport Security Coordinator in

accordance to the American with Disabilities Act include:

 Provision of guidance to airport employees regarding security issues

 Safety assessment on airports to determine its compliance with minimum standards set by

the local, state and federal government.

 Development and management of security related contracts.

 Prepares reports on airport security.

The Airport Security Program (ASP)

 This is a program that aims at protecting employees, passengers, and planes that use the

airports from threats, crimes and malicious/accidental harm. The rules and regulations of ASP

are enforced by ensuring compliance with aviation requirements and registrations including Air

Navigation Order, Security and Piracy Order, Aviation Security, the National Civil Aviation

Security Programme (NCASP) and applicable local laws. The ASP document provides the

following:

 The airport’s compliance with legislation requirement of the NCASP.

 Definition of airport’s security-related responsibilities of different stakeholders.

 Organizational arrangements for coordination and management of airport security.

 Description of routine airport security processes.

 Description of airport’s security contingency plans.

 Minimum security standards.

Airport Areas

a) Airside Security area

This is a section of the airport that is accessible to authorized individuals only. The airside area is

secured using a perimeter fence that is under constant security patrol. The perimeter fence

comprises of a continuous chain-link fence that is topped with three barbed wire strands. The

Airside Security Area is accessible from the outside areas via manned gates.

b) The Terminal Area

This refers to a section of the airport where airport traffic control service is offered.

c) The Sterile Area

This refers to the section of the airport where offers passengers access to boarding airplanes in a

manner that is expected by foreign air carrier, aircraft operator and TSA.

Mantrap Doors

This refers to a pair of interlocking doors where the first door opens before the second

one hence confining the passenger to an enclosed area. The second door only opens if the

passenger provides valid Identification Document. This process in the airport is facilitated by a

Personnel Identification System (PIS). The PIS is used to provide definitive credentials within

the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The PIS supports various software including

Noncombatant Tracking/Emergency Tracking Accountability System (NT/ETAS), Real-Time

Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS), and Defense Biometric Identification

Systems (DBIDS). The biometrics refers to the measurement and statistical analysis of

individual’s unique behavioral and physical characteristics.