Security: Safeguarding Civil Aviation

What does Annex 17 ask of each State?

State duties

Four branches: the system, a seizure, screening, and India's set-up. Tap a box with + to open it.

• Annex 17 safeguarding civil aviation Annex 17 is ICAO's rulebook for protecting civil aviation from unlawful acts. It brings together everyone who takes part in security programmes.
  • Build the system Each State sets up a security organisation and regulations, practices and procedures that protect people and can respond rapidly to any increased threat.
    • Establish a security organisation Every member country must have an organisation whose job is protecting civil aviation from unlawful acts.
    • Make regulations and procedures To protect civil aviation while keeping flights safe, regular and efficient.
    • Protect people; respond quickly Protect passengers, crew, ground staff and the public, and respond rapidly to any increased threat.
    • Airlines run complementary programmes Airline operators have primary responsibility; the State makes sure carriers develop their own programmes.
  • After an unlawful seizure When a seized aircraft lands, the State retains it unless departure is justified to protect lives, notifies the six parties, assists the aircraft and protects passengers and crew.
    • Retain the aircraft unless lives are at risk A hijacked aircraft that lands in a country is kept on the ground there, unless letting it go is needed to save lives.
    • Notify six parties by the quickest means By the most expeditious means: State of registry, State of the operator, States whose citizens were killed or injured, held hostage or on board, and ICAO.
    • Assist the aircraft nav aids, ATS, permission to land The State provides navigation aids, air traffic services and permission to land to an aircraft subjected to unlawful seizure.
    • Protect passengers and crew until the journey can continue The country looks after the passengers and crew and keeps them safe until they can carry on with their journey.
  • Screening and weapons Screening of passengers and their cabin baggage, re-screening after mixing, and the conditions for armed foreign agents to carry weapons on board.
    • Re-screen if passengers mix passengers and cabin bags Screened passengers who meet unscreened people after the screening point are re-screened before boarding.
    • Armed foreign agents only after two notices Prior notice from the State of embarkation to the other State, and notice to the pilot in command.
  • India In India, aircraft and airport security is governed by the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2011, with BCAS, the Commissioner of Security (CA), AAI and private airports sharing the work.
    • BCAS Bureau of Civil Aviation Security The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, constituted by the Central Government, carries out regulatory and oversight functions for civil aviation security.
      • Director General of BCAS Appointed by the Central Government, announced in the Official Gazette.
    • Commissioner of Security (CA) appropriate authority The Commissioner of Security (Civil Aviation), BCAS, Ministry of Civil Aviation, is India's appropriate authority for Annex 17. All aircraft and airports must comply with the Commissioner's instructions.
      • Appropriate authority for Annex 17 In India, the Commissioner of Security (Civil Aviation) is the authority in charge of meeting Annex 17.
      • Runs the national security programme Establishes, develops, implements, maintains and reviews the National Civil Aviation Security Programme.
      • Receives all security reports Every security accident or incident is reported to the Commissioner immediately, and the Commissioner may order an investigation.
    • AAI Directorate of Security nodal for AAI airports The nodal agency of AAI for security functions, covering AAI airports only.
      • Airport Directors at each airport At each AAI airport, the Airport Director looks after security.
    • JVC and private airports five named DIAL, MIAL, CIAL, HIAL and BIAL run the airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Hyderabad and Bangalore, and each has its own security team.
      • DIAL: Delhi The joint-venture company that runs Delhi airport also runs its security, with its own team to watch over and do the security work.
      • MIAL: Mumbai The joint-venture company that runs Mumbai airport also runs its security, with its own team to watch over and do the security work.
      • CIAL: Cochin The company that runs Cochin airport also runs its security, with its own team to watch over and do the security work.
      • HIAL: Hyderabad The joint-venture company that runs Hyderabad airport also runs its security, with its own team to watch over and do the security work.
      • BIAL: Bangalore The joint-venture company that runs Bangalore airport also runs its security, with its own team to watch over and do the security work.

Takeaway: Build a security organisation, protect people after a seizure, keep screened passengers clean, and in India report to the Commissioner of Security.

How did Annex 17 grow?

How Annex 17 grew

From hijacking to a full security system. Step through in order.

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A seized aircraft lands in your State. Then what?

Seized aircraft

Fly the route: the landing State's duties, in order. Tap a stop for detail.

1. Aircraft lands AFTER UNLAWFUL SEIZURE An aircraft subjected to unlawful seizure or interference lands in the State.
2. Retain it UNLESS LIVES AT RISK It is kept, unless letting it leave is needed to save lives, so the rule has an exception.
3. Notify registry and operator BY THE QUICKEST MEANS The State of registry and the State of the operator are told of the landing at once.
4. Share with all six VICTIMS, HOSTAGES, CITIZENS, ICAO All other relevant information goes to the two States above, the States of victims, hostages and citizens on board, and ICAO.
5. Assist the aircraft NAV AIDS, ATS, LANDING Navigation aids, air traffic services and permission to land; catering is not on the list.
6. Protect passengers and crew UNTIL THE JOURNEY CONTINUES Adequate measures for their safety until their journey can be continued.

Takeaway: Keep it on the ground unless lives demand otherwise, tell everyone concerned at once, help the aircraft, and look after the people on board.

Who is told, who guards which airport, which rules?

Security in practice

Three views: the six parties told, India's airport security and the chain of rules.

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What if screened passengers mix with unscreened people?

Re-screening

Follow the red path: one unscreened person gets in, and the screened side is no longer clean.

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Who needs extra care on board?

Special passengers

Disruptive passengers and armed agents. Tap + to open each.

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Which Annex 17 rule applies here?

Which rule

Read each case and press the stamp that applies.

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What happens after a security incident in India?

Reporting

From the incident to the inquiry, in order.

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Who is responsible in India?

Who runs security?

Tap a duty, then who holds it.

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Numbers to know

Numbers

The dates and counts examiners like, in one list.

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Pairs that catch students out

Don't mix up

Read each pair, then the rule that tells them apart.

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Test yourself

Ten questions from this chapter.

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