FBO SECURITY
Aviation businesses
need to get ahead of Washington
by Michael A. Hodges
To date, virtually all of the focus on security has been at the airline level, and unfortunately, most of it is more for "show" than for the actual protection of the flying public. Nevertheless, general aviation's time is coming soon. In fact, Congress has already begun to explore the perceived threat posed by general aviation when a teenager propelled it to the front page of most newspapers.
Once the FAA feels
it has made the traveling public feel better about airline travel, it
will move on to other areas, led by general aviation businesses and airports.
This should strike fear in the FBO world.
In order to keep the FAA - and the new Transportation Security Administration
- from doing what they think is right, it is imperative that fixed base
operators take a proactive approach to security and develop a plan that
is acceptable to Washington.
As such, I would like to offer the 4-A Approach to GA Security, which
suggests ways that FBOs can enhance general aviation security by implementing
some basic good business practices.
AWARENESS
"Know your customer" seems like a simple, basic principle, and
it is. However, the more important issue is to be aware of who is not
the customer. I cannot count the number of times that I have walked into
FBOs across the country, looking in doors, around corners, walking down
hallways, etc., and never been questioned. Granted, I may not have appeared
to be a threat to the customer service reps and line personnel, but the
reality is that I could have been. Make sure that all employees are constantly
aware of what's going on around them, and are trained to ask questions
if they see someone they don't know or recognize, or if something just
does not "look right." Train them to confront the unusual individuals
or situations in a professional and non-threatening way. That way, if
they are a current or prospective customer, they will come away with the
feeling that you are acting to protect them as well as the business.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Similarly, I've spent time walking around hangars and terminal buildings
(even jumping the fence a time or two), and peeking into a few airplanes
on the ramp, only to be faced with some confused and unconcerned looks
from line technicians, and an occasional wave. The reason hangar and tiedown
customers leave their aircraft in an FBO's hands is that they assume it
is going to take care of it and make sure it is not compromised.
Account for everyone that accesses the ramp and the aircraft on it. Consider
issuing identification cards to employees and based tenants. There is
reasonably priced technology available today that allows an FBO to make
its own ID badges on-site, as well as visitor badges for transient pilots
and guests. As with all security, while this is largely for increased
"perceived" surveillance, it might be seen as a welcome addition
by customers. Not only does it make them feel like they're part of the
solution, it also shows commitment to the situation.
Also, establish and promote a designated "security officer"
for the company. Through this individual, develop a security manual, including
written procedures for handling such things as identifying unusual individuals
and situations, emergency procedures, phone threats, handling the media,
and emergency contact numbers for local and federal authorities.
ACCESS
Controlling access to a facility is critical. Too many aviation businesses
offer total access to their entire facility to any stranger off the street.
Other than common customer reception areas such as the flight lounge,
no one should have access to other areas of a business without first checking
in.
When visiting airports around the country, it's common to be able to walk
right into the maintenance hangar, a private office area, or even the
fuel storage facilities with ease. Many of these facilities could be easily
controlled with button-coded door locks or other access systems. Limit
all access to the ramp and tiedown areas.
It's not unreasonable to ask anyone who accesses a ramp to sign in and
out. Keep a log of people that access the ramp; then if something happens,
there's a record. If someone doesn't pass through the FBO terminal, make
sure line personnel check with everyone they come in contact with and
that they've signed in.
AVERSION
Everyone knows that Authorized Personnel Only signs and locks keep the
honest people honest, but do little to deter the person that's intent
on committing a crime. However, having the right sign is more important
than just having a sign. Knowing how to report a suspicious person, and
to whom, is an important feature of ramp security. Perhaps signs on the
inside of the fence make as much sense as on the outside, offering information
such as whom to call and the phone number. In these days where cell phones
are the norm instead of the exception, something as simple as this could
assist other pilots to quickly get the word to appropriate FBO personnel
or authorities.
Other signs could be equally effective. Ramp Monitored by Video Surveillance
could be a productive deterrent, especially if accompanied by a few visible
cameras. Or, All Persons Must Register with the FBO. The goal here is
to get those intent on committing a crime to think twice about doing it.
