So, you have planned your trip and received your intelligence brief from your risk mitigation partner. In the brief, you are presented with a compelling argument for the need for aircraft security. But what exactly is aircraft security? What is the guard expected to do? Or more importantly, what does your risk mitigation partner expect from the contracted security provider? These are questions that every operator planning aviation trip support services overseas should be able to answer before the aircraft parks for the night.
Aircraft protection is one of those elements of international trip planning that is easy to overlook when schedules are tight, and the focus is on permits, slots, and fuel. But for operators overnighting at airports in challenging locations, the value of well-executed airplane security is significant both operationally and financially. Understanding what you are buying, and what you should expect from the provider, is the starting point for making an informed decision.
What Aircraft Security Is, and What It Is Not
When some people think of aircraft security, they think of a multi-man team of operators clad in tactical gear, assault rifles at the ready, vigilantly protecting your aircraft from any threat. However, the truth is a lot more understated. For one thing, even with armed security, there is no offensive requirement in the post orders for most security providers.
As has been discussed in operational circles before, aircraft security has two core components: a deterrent component and an observe-and-report component. The deterrent component is self-evident, and its value is real. A visible, professional guard presence at the aircraft communicates clearly that the aircraft is monitored, and any attempt at interference carries risk for the would-be perpetrator. This alone is often sufficient to prevent low-level opportunistic incidents that account for the majority of aircraft protection events.
However, it is the observe-and-report component that is frequently underestimated, and which in practice delivers some of the most meaningful value of all aircraft security arrangements.
The Value of Observe and Report: An Insurance Perspective
What many operators fail to realize is how valuable the observe-and-report component is in relation to insurance. Consider the following scenario: you come out to your aircraft and discover that your hull has been damaged. You are going to want to know who did it and how it happened. When you are on the phone with your insurance provider, they will want exactly the same information.
Having an aircraft security guard serves as a witness to describe how events unfolded is most useful in this context. This can not only save a significant amount of money, but it can make an unpleasant process considerably easier to manage. Now consider that we are entrusting a multi-million-dollar aircraft to an FBO in a third-world country that probably does not pay its ramp staff very much. The case for having a professional, accountable observer on site overnight becomes even clearer when the financial exposure is framed in those terms.
So, the next time you plan on overnighting overseas, it is worth asking your international trip support company or ISP's security provider whether aircraft security is recommended. The peace of mind it provides is priceless.
Guard Responsibilities: What the Post Orders Should Cover
It is always a good idea to ask your risk mitigation partner for a copy of the guard's post orders. The post orders are the standard orders that all their vetted security providers are expected to adhere to. A company's post orders may deviate from the above, but the following should provide a guideline of what to look for and what to expect from your aircraft security team.
Responsibilities of an aircraft security guard for airplane security should include the following:
Prevent unauthorized access and entry to the aircraft
Act as a deterrent against tampering, vandalism, sabotage, drug trafficking, and terrorism
Keep records of any incidents related to accidents or damage to the aircraft
Operational Requirements for Aircraft Protection
Beyond the three core responsibilities listed above, effective aircraft protection requires that the guard operates under a set of firm operational standards throughout the duration of the assignment. The following requirements should be standard in any credible set of post orders:
Arrangements must be made for a continued presence at the aircraft in the event that the guard needs to leave his post for a short period of time
Guards will not leave their posts unless relieved by another guard
Guards should ensure that aircraft doors and fuselage seals, if used, are intact throughout the aircraft's stay
If it is necessary to tow the aircraft, the guard will accompany the aircraft to any location that the aircraft has been towed to, without opening any aircraft doors
Upon departure, the guard shall give the aircrew a status report and can then be released from duty
Why These Standards Matter
Each of the operational requirements above reflects a specific failure mode that has been observed in real aircraft security events. Guards leaving posts unrelieved create windows of vulnerability, however brief. Aircraft towed without guard accompaniment have been subject to interference during the repositioning process. Failure to check door and seal integrity on handover has resulted in delayed discovery of tampering. And the departure status report, often seen as a formality, is in practice the final accountability check that closes the loop on the assignment and confirms the aircraft was received in the condition it should be.
For operators relying on emergency aviation trip support services in locations where security risks are elevated, specifying these standards in advance and confirming they are reflected in the provider's post orders is not excessive due diligence. It is the minimum acceptable standard of aircraft security for any overnight operation in a challenging environment.
When to Request Aircraft Security
Not every overnight stop requires a dedicated aircraft security guard, and urgent trip support services providers will typically advise on the level of risk associated with a given location as part of the pre-trip intelligence brief. However, for operations in locations where the risk mitigation partner's assessment indicates a meaningful threat, or in locations where the FBO or airport authority cannot provide adequate passive security for parked aircraft, the active aircraft security option should be seriously considered.
The cost of a professional aircraft security guard for an overnight period is modest relative to the value of the asset being protected, and very modest relative to the potential costs of an insurance claim, hull repair, or operational disruption arising from a preventable incident. For operators asking their international trip support company to arrange this service, the key is to ensure that the provider engaged is vetted, that their post orders are available for review, and that the guard is briefed on the specific aircraft and operation before taking up the assignment.
Operations Support
Planning an international trip and need aircraft security arranged at your destination? UAS International Trip Support coordinates vetted aircraft protection services as part of a full suite of aviation trip support services. Contact UAS to ensure your aircraft is properly protected on every overnight stop.
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