Boeing Air Traffic Management has submitted proposals to the US Department of Transportation in response to a US government request for private-sector ideas to improve US air transport security. Boeing's proposals are drawn from its Air Traffic Management, Autometric, Connexion, Jeppesen Sanderson and Preston Aviation Solutions businesses.
Boeing proposes that secure and encrypted communication links between aircraft, satellites and the ground are used to provide real-time information about aircraft trajectories, weather, air-traffic flow and other air-traffic conditions, providing authorities on the ground with instant access to information that could be used to detect, monitor and respond to threats, says Boeing.
The company is also advocating the use of three-dimensional models of airports that would be integrated with information from airport security systems and passenger flow models, and a unified graphical representation combining information on an aircraft's position, altitude, speed and intended flight path to detect anomalies.
Canada is to spend C$2.2 billion ($1.4 billion) on new aviation security measures as part of its C$130.5 billion federal budget announced on 10 December. Passengers will pay a ticket tax from 1 April of C$12 per one-way flight compared to the existing C$2 charge per passenger currently buried in the cost of a ticket. The tax is expected to yield C$440 million a year. Undercover Royal Canadian Mounted Police will travel on some flights, while the government will take over airport security from private companies, and improve passenger and baggage screening. Around $400 million is being invested in airport bomb detection equipment, and more airport policing. The government will also pay to reinforce cockpit doors.Source: Flight International
