Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, has teamed up with the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the European Organisation for Security (EOS), Norwegian airport operator – Avinor and Heathrow Airport to release guidance on Open Architecture for Airport Security Systems.
The aim of the guidance is to provide the path to unlocking secure data inter connectivity and interoperability among globally connected aviation security systems.
TSA Administrator, David Pekoske, revealed that the pace of the evolution of new security screening technologies is unprecedented and Open Architecture is helping to increase interoperability through the use of open standards. It also simplifies the addition or replacement of new components and data sharing.
“Through Open Architecture, TSA provides pathways for new collaborators, such as ACI Europe, enhancing innovation by broadening the market of possible partnerships and by allowing for greater flexibility to integrate best solutions that outmatch constantly changing threat environments,” he said.
Implementing Open Architecture principles into security systems will also enable open data formats and standard interfaces, all embedded within an operationally viable and cyber-secure aviation security environment. It also facilities uniform standards that will expedite agile responses to new and emerging threats, providing benefits for all stakeholders throughout the globally connected aviation system.
Olivier Jankovec, ACI Europe Director General, added: “Our joint guidance on Open Architecture is laying the ground for the adoption and implementation of new ground breaking approaches to aviation security – making it more agile and more resilient to the ever evolving threats landscape, especially from cyber. This is about leveraging innovation both in terms technology developments and the cooperative processes they enable for better protection, but also enhanced passenger experiences at airports.”
Avinor’s CEO, Abraham Foss, also commented that as an airport operator with 43 airports spread throughout Norway, Avinor is hugely dependent on sharing information, having an efficient maintenance organisation, easy user management and less complexity when installing new equipment. “Open Architecture gives us all this,” he said. “It also improves security, as information can not only be shared internally, but also with other relevant partners, national and international.”
