The US trade group representing air taxi and fixed-based operators is to start testing abiometric smart card to speed up security at airfields.
The National Air Transport Association (NATA) is testing the SkyD system, which matches fingerprints with data held on file for "trusted" passengers. SkyD has been developed by Lockheed Martin Information Systems and several software companies including Microsoft. A more advanced version of the card, SkyGuard, uses iris scanning and could also be issued to flight crews, ground workers and flight-school students.
NATA president Jim Coyne says the trade group's motivation is in reopening Washington National and other major airports to general aviation traffic, which has been restricted since 11 September. NATA members have lost $400 million since the terrorist attacks, he says.
Coyne also sees the card as a way to restore public confidence in private aviation. Major airlines, through the Air Transport Association, have also called for a voluntary biometric smart card.
The NATA cards will undergo a 90-day proof-of-concept test starting in January in co-operation with an unnamed airline. Other test parties are Flight Safety International, Signature Flight Support and Executive Jet.
Source: Flight International
