Security high fliers
So Norwegians and their visitors, as well as commodities, take to the air when they need to travel.
Their safety is usually in the hands of state-owned Avinor, which describes itself as Europe’s market leader in civil aviation security and whose responsibilities include air traffic control across Norway.
Avinor owns and operates 46 Norwegian airports, 32 of which are protected by G4S.
G4S Security Systems (Norway) is sole supplier of advanced CCTV solutions to Avinor, providing 24-hour digital storage 365 days of the year, plus integrated alarm and security systems at all of Avinor’s civil airports.
This close association involves everything from initial site survey through to control, testing and installation, followed by maintenance.
 Since July 2006, G4S Security Services (Norway) has also been operating the security checkpoints at Sola Heliport, just a few miles outside the city of Stavanger which is closely associated with oil exploration and production. “The offshore oil industry is highly vulnerable, both to accidents and intentional damage,” explains Tron Gjedrem, G4S head of department at Stavanger. “Our job is to help reduce that vulnerability and make the installations a safe place to work.” G4S personnel make sure that all passengers and their luggage are checked and safe before transportation to the offshore installations, and that no one is under the influence of alcohol. Checking valid IDs, scanning luggage, declaring medications and reporting violations is also part of the commission. The G4S team uses several technical tools, ranging from simple hand scanners to advanced metal detectors and x-ray machines, but most important is the skill of the personnel handling the security. That’s what truly makes the difference. They regularly test and improve their abilities to recognise dangerous materials, identify intoxicated persons and perform first aid. In doing so, they make a vital contribution to Avinor’s stated vision, which is “by means of our safety policy and security installations [to] do anything to protect the travellers, all workers at the airports, aircraft and property, plus our premises, against terrorism and sabotage”. | Meanwhile, in Brussels, G4S Security Systems (Belgium) is also making a vital technical contribution to the smooth-running of Belgocontrol, the autonomous public company in charge of the safety of air navigation in Belgian civil airspace and at the country’s public airports. Belgocontrol manages all civil aircraft movements from 0 to 24,500 feet (8000m) over Belgium and Luxembourg – one of the busiest airspaces in the world. Safety and security are essential for such a crucial service, and it is also vital that the personnel and equipment housed within the centre, on the outskirts of Brussels Airport, are protected from unauthorised intrusion or interference. The contract was won against stiff competition in a public tender and requires a robust access control system, the first phase of which was introduced into the new centre in 2006. “It’s an integrated security management solution, based on the versatile G4S multiMAX access control platform, integrated with intrusion detection,” explains Roland VanRoy, G4S major account manager. “We hope eventually it will also integrate with CCTV cameras.” Some 250 card readers have been installed in the Belgocontrol building, providing access control using contactless cards. Intrusion detection is managed by the same multiMAX system linked to 130 magnetic contacts at around 30 locations. Intercom facilities and keybox management are also integrated into the system. The most recent additional requirement at Belgocontrol has been equipping the double doors of 450 19-inch IT cabinets with an access control system. The sensors on those 900 doors are now also integrated into and monitored by the G4S multiMAX system. |
Aviation has been a target for extremists for many years and for that reason security is continually being stepped up at airports and associated operations around the world.
The Avinor and Belgocontrol installations demonstrate the importance of technical solutions in providing protection and in augmenting the physical security that is an unavoidable and necessary part of every traveller’s experience in the modern world.
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Security high fliers
