The Last Word
A Personal View
expressed by Sidney Chau
“…management should use a carrot and stick approach whereby staff
are subjected to discipline, close supervision, coaching and regular
inspections and tests in order to keep them alert and performing to the
best of their ability. I term this approach ‘management by excitement’…”
The attempt to blow up Northwest detecting, for example, a thin layer of process including intelligence handling,
flight 253 on Christmas Day once again plastic explosive or liquid chemicals. risk management, access control to
proved that terrorists are still striving The second issue is, of course, that of restricted areas, security screening at
to bring down international airlines; personal privacy; should passengers be checkpoints, and identification of high
this, despite several failed attempts subjected to full body examination? risk passengers through profiling or
since 9/11, including Richard’s Reid’s It is generally accepted that no security behaviour pattern recognition, as well
shoe bomb, the plot against north system, and no current technology used as the enforcement of LAGs restrictions.
American-bound flights by British- in security screening, is 100% effective. To start with, security personnel must
based terrorists in 2006 and, on 7 The solution should be a combination be properly trained to ensure they are
March 2008, the attempt by members of systems and human efforts. Aviation efficient and professional and that they
of ETIM to set alight a China Southern security should begin long before adhere to high ethical standards and a
Airlines flight from Xinjiang to Beijing. passengers arrive at the airport. good degree of discipline. One major
For flight NW253, it was fortunate that Intelligence gathered, analysed and factor that can greatly enhance the level
Abdulmutallab failed in his attempt to properly acted upon is essential if we are of staff performance is motivation.
trigger an explosion and was subdued to keep ahead of the enemy. Motivation is an art which embraces
by passengers and crew. At the airport itself, we have the a wide range of managerial skills
Subsequent to the Christmas Day basic physical protection requirements and techniques and can take the
incident, a number of questions have such as perimeter fencing, access form of remuneration, good working
been raised. Why was the intelligence control systems and effective screening environment, caring staff, good
received by law enforcement agencies operations, which are all important lines communication, rewards for good
on Abdulmutallab not properly acted of defence. Many major airports also work, job enrichment and job rotation
upon? Why was he not effectively adopt the “risk based security approach” and so on.
profiled at his originating and transit whereby additional layers of defence are When security staff are motivated
airports? Why were neither the PETN implemented based on the available they will work better. Nevertheless,
explosive nor the liquid chemicals, intelligence and on risk assessment. merely providing them with good news
reported in some media to have With the benefit of hindsight, it is and comfort will not ‘excite’ them to
been TATP, not detected by security widely held that Abdulmutallab would yield the best results. The management
screening? And, perhaps most have been identified as a passenger method used should be a “carrot and
importantly of all, questions have been requiring scrupulous security screening stick” approach whereby staff are
asked why Abdulmutallab chose these at the airport had profiling or behaviour subjected to discipline, close supervision,
specific routes and airports to enable pattern recognition techniques been coaching and regular inspections and
him to carry out his evil plan applied effectively, or, possibly if he had tests in order to keep them alert and
The fact that a passenger was able been subjected to pat-down search. performing to the best of their ability. I
to pass through security screening at It is therefore felt that the multiple term this special management approach
both Lagos and Schipol airports with layer approach, based on the theory of “management by excitement”.
concealed explosives and chemicals has “defence in depth” with the objectives In conclusion, aviation security, given
prompted the Dutch and other national of deterrence – detection – delay and the stakes, requires a zero tolerance
authorities to install full body scanners response, should be adopted by airports policy towards failures or omissions by
in an effort to enhance screening – subject, of course, to their threat level. the staff performing security duties.
capabilities at their airports. Whilst there However, the human factor is, I As such, in addition to motivation by
is no doubt that products such as the believe, the bedrock of good security. reward, instilling discipline in staff who
millimeter wave and backscatter body The aviation security system is mainly a are tightly supervised helps to avoid
scanners are very useful in detecting human system, involving heavy reliance slippage or complacency and will result
articles concealed under the clothing, on human perception, performance, in an effective operation.
the issue is still somewhat controversial. decision making and judgment.
Security professionals query whether Indeed, human factors have an impact The author is Executive Director, AVSECO,
such technologies are capable of on the effectiveness of each security Hong Kong.
66 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting www.asi-mag.com February 2010 Aviationsecurityinternational
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70