Access Control
& Security Systems

A safety representative for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) highlighted his concerns for increased security at a recent hearing on proposed changes to Los Angeles International Airport.

Much of Captain Jon Russell’s speech focused on access control at LAX. Russell is the regional safety chairman of ALPA for the area encompassing LAX.

"Restricting access to authorized persons is only as good as the means we use to identify the person seeking access," Russell said. "ALPA calls for a ‘universal access’ system of identification cards, which would be scanned and checked by a computer against a control database."

Russell alluded to the use of smart card technology as a solution to some the airport security issues. He highlighted the fact that smart cards can be used universally around the country at different airports.

Russell then spoke in terms of freight and baggage protection.

"To provide maximum protection we have to move toward screening freight and checked baggage using the best detection technologies. The machines must be integrated into the flow of freight and baggage streams," he said.

Russell’s final statement was directed at a proposed centralized security check-in facility for passengers, located outside the main LAX terminals.

"Given the cost of this particular project, would the net increase in security be more than the increases in security that might be realized by spending the same money on improvements in other areas?" he asked.

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• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue