Is the airport safe?

Rafi Sela does not believe that a safe trip means a trip more expensive. And as part of a mission to make air travel in the United States safer, more relaxed and leisurely - and cheaper.

Sound impossible?. Not for the Israeli Army veteran with decades of experience in handling security issues in Israel and the United States. According to Sela, the elements of safety, comfort and cost are interrelated. This is a concept that major American airports do not understand, he says.

Sitting in a cafe in Jerusalem, the striking 58-year resident of Kfar Vradim age in the north, points to an example closer to home.

"Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel is certainly the most endangered of the world and at the same time, one of the safest in the world. Notably, it accomplishes this while allowing retail operations are in the sixth place in the world in terms of revenue per passenger lower, "says Sela told ISRAEL21c.

His company, AR Challenges, includes some of the heavyweights in Israel's security including former Managing Director of the Israeli Airport Authority and the Chief Operating Officer of the Israeli Security Agency and a former Israeli Chief of Police and Commissioner the Jerusalem Region.

"Our personal involvement at senior at Ben Gurion allows us to offer a unique experience that can provide similar benefits to American airports," says Sela.

The natural question then is why American airports need Sela and advice from the team. Are not American airports safe?. Sela pleasant countenance becomes serious.

"Definitely not. There is no airport security per se in the United States. What they have in the U.S. is aviation security - the bad guys try to get on the plane. But in American airports today, you can enter the terminal any kind of weapon or device with you, "he says. "After 11 September, the airports were in a panic. Instead of operating the way they operate security operations - from A to Z - fell somewhere in the S".

According to Sela, the Israeli method involves analysis of security threats. Before carrying out a careful analysis, one can not determine the vulnerabilities of an airport, so that decisions are taken as a reaction to something that either does not exist or is wrong. Are indeed "fighting the last war" - not against the next.

"Until today, no official body of aviation in the United States has done a serious analysis and understanding of threats. Perhaps one reason is that if they produce such a plan, think the cost of installing the required system of airport security will be prohibitive" says Sela.

Sela, who has worked with the U.S. Navy Seals, Swat teams and leading organizations in the United States on security - in addition to running his own security company in Washington DC before returning to Israel in 1995 - is the solution with a holistic approach.

"Our plan plasma security prices need not be an obstacle. If you do well then people can move more flexibly and in a relaxed manner to the areas of access and luggage section. Can improve operations children and use the increased revenues to offset the cost of more complex security "

The problem of implementing your plan, says Sela, is conceptual.

"Most airports do not look like business. Are budgeted service providers. They have set a budget and a mandate to provide service to airlines and passengers. If they can not do that within your budget, not a problem of them - simply increase airport fees, which the passenger pays a last resort. As can raise costs for airlines and passengers, your budget is adjusted, but the industry and airline passengers suffer accordingly. "

"We believe that airports need to be seen as a business. The costs created by security needs should be offset by revenue. Full operation mode has to change. Now most airports have a security division and lower division side of Operations. There is absolutely no contact or cross-reference between the two departments. The first thing that must happen is that the management structure has to change, and they have to start talking and working together. You will see some interesting and innovative ideas ".

An example is the placement Sela offers retail. Most retail outlets in American airports - including the new ones - are placed before the main security checks. Most of the passengers, fearing long lines and looking forward in time, pass through security checks before leaving little time for shopping, thus biasing potential revenue for the retailer and the airport.

Sela current guidelines presented in its reform of AR Challenges airport to the AAAE (American Associaton of Airport Executives) in two of his lectures. He also met with officials at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport and the aviation department at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

His presentation offers the following benefits and considerations:

· Identification deep and careful evaluation of specific global threats of security.

· Alternative ways of dealing with current and potential threats.

· The provision of global real-time counter with a view to information.

· Safety Circles security "total" from the airport.

· Maximize safety and streamline the flow of passengers.

• Reduce the minimum wait time.

· Maximize the retail trade.

• Provide higher levels of security without interrupting the operation.

AR Challenges also addresses other issues such as emergency preparedness of the city, county and state and his staff have attended training in the New York Police Department after September 11 and has provided consulting services to other agencies. Sela says he is also active in promoting the system of advice The SAFE (SECURITY ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING + ADVANCE + wit? A) that provides both regulation, design criteria and products to protect new or old terrorist acts. S.A.F.E. rules have been adopted by the Israeli Army Core of Engineers and represent the higher standard of protection against terrorist acts.

Sela realizes it will take time to convince American Airlines to change their system of operations that use a long time and plan to take security integration / trade, but is constant in his belief that work.

"It's just a matter of time until the airports they realize they will have to address this issue. And then the winners will be the airlines, and more importantly, the passengers."

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Source: Israel21c.com