Many who attended this year’s Aviation Security Summit were disappointed that industry leadership unfortunately did not get the opportunity to meet with the new TSA administrator, Peter Neffenger. According to his representatives, he has had a heavy travel schedule and was feeling under the weather. Particularly unfortunate because his first exposure to the airport security… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Jeff Price
State Department Issues Worldwide Travel Alert
The US State Department today issued a worldwide travel alert in effect until February 24, 2016. The alert was issued because authorities believe the likelihood of terrorist attacks will continue, and that terrorists will employ both conventional and nonconventional weapons and targeting official and private events and interests. So what does this mean? Should you… Continue Reading
Time for an Active Shooter Review
The situation in France reminds us that terrorist or criminal active shooter events can happen anytime, anywhere. What should you do if you’re caught up in an active shooter incident? First, review the City of Houston’s excellent video, Run-Hide-Fight. This is the fundamental active shooter strategy. Schools, airports, sporting venues, concert halls may have slightly different… Continue Reading
What Passengers Flying to France can Expect
With France closing its borders, passengers are left to wonder, what’s next? For the most part, when a country shuts down flights, the airlines treat it like a massive weather delay. Aircraft already en route are diverted to other airports, and aircraft that have not yet departed will be held at their point of departure. Based… Continue Reading
DHS Announcement on Metrojet 9268
DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson just released at statement on aviation security enhancements in light of the recent crash of a Russian airliner. The statement is posted here, followed up by my commentary. STATEMENT BY SECRETARY JEH C. JOHNSON CONCERNING AVIATION SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS PENDING INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH OF METROJET FLIGHT 9268 While the facts and… Continue Reading
What happened to Metrojet Flight 9268?
The crash of Metrojet Flight 9268 has brought forth wide speculation about what happened to the plane. It seems that in any plane crash today we always go through a phase where we try to determine if it was terrorist related. This is not unusual, in fact it is routine, but I think it is more prevalent… Continue Reading
Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act
The challenge with aviation security in the past several years is it’s tendency to become a huge game of whack-a-mole. Every time one threat is identified, we turn all our resources to hitting that one, then another one pops up. What we need are comprehensive solutions that improve the “system,” and that continue to improve the system as threats… Continue Reading
On the next episode of Airplane Repo, It’s Amateur Hour
Have you ever seen that show, Airplane Repo? If you have, you may have been surprised at how easily these people can access an airport and take off with an airplane. Looks easy right? Apparently a woman in St. Louis thought so to, and in early August, she was caught attempting to steal a corporate… Continue Reading
Dear Admiral Neffenger, Part V
Part 5 of 5 in a series on fixing aviation security. Dear Admiral Neffenger, TSA needs to embrace SeMS – Security Management Systems. SeMS is already up and running through IATA and ICAO. Here in that States, the FAA has been dragging its feet on SMS (Safety Management System) for years although it’s a proven… Continue Reading
Dear Admiral Neffenger, Part IV
Part 4 in a series of 5, on fixing aviation security. Dear Admiral Neffenger, We need to get the word out to the police and airport security community on the real threats, so we can focus our limited time, resources and money on the actual threats. I heard a Sheriff the other day at a… Continue Reading