ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV
Highly trained screening operators could prevent terrorists getting on board aircraft in the USA, according to two Israeli aviation security experts.
Nati Rotem devised the "Profile" questioning system of passengers when head of El Al's security division, but he warns that the USA would need to adapt the system to the US environment. "This screening system was tailor-made to Israeli needs. It cannot work on an American scale and in the US environment.
He believes that US screening should be done by people trained to spot suspicious elements in passenger behaviour. "There are certain behaviour patterns of a person on his way to perform a terrorist act," says Rotem, but he warns that this cannot be done with thepresent security manpower at American airports.
He says that in certain situations a profile system can help eliminate suspicion raised by other factors, but only if the questions are asked correctly and not "just to satisfy the regulations".
Rotem says airport security systems should make it impossible for firearms and knives to be planted in the passenger cabin. This can be achieved by screening airport ground personnel before hiring, and by having cabin crews check aircraft cabins after ground crew leave the aircraft. This has been done on Israeli airlines for years.
Rafi Ron, head of Israel's airport authority (IAA) security division until last week, says that the use of security systems is not enough unless their operators are skilled. "In the USA prior to 11 September, the sensitivity of metal detecting gates was deliberately decreased and the X-ray machines in most airports were operated by low skilled personnel. The quality and training of these people is critical."
He adds that the profile system combined with efficiently operated technical systems can block the entry of terrorists into aircraft.
While Rotem favours a system that will spot any potential terrorist on the ground, he also advocates the use of armed security guards on the aircraft: "You don't need these guards on each flight. They should board flights sporadically, and sit in different seats each time. Nothing should become a visible pattern that can help terrorists to neutralise the guard at the critical moment."
Source: Flight International
