Airport Security : Compliance

In a sector subject to strict regulatory pressure and constantly evolving threats, airport security is a major operational imperative. Whether it concerns passenger and baggage screening operations, cargo protection, or access control to restricted areas, the slightest deviation during an authority inspection (DGAC) can result in severe penalties or the suspension of approvals.

Bureau Veritas supports civil aviation stakeholders in implementing and maintaining their security systems, in line with their activities and the applicable regulatory requirements.

What is airport security?

Airport security encompasses all measures designed to protect civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference. These measures cover, in particular, access control, the protection of cargo and mail, aircraft supplies, and certain operations carried out airside.

Security is not limited to the screening of passengers or baggage. It also covers personnel, vehicles, goods, and the procedures implemented by airport operators, airlines, and other companies involved in the airport chain.

What regulations govern airport security?

Airport security falls within an international, European, and national regulatory framework designed to harmonize measures for the protection of civil aviation.

At the European level, two texts form the regulatory foundation :

Regulation (EC) No 300/2008, which establishes common rules on civil aviation security;
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 as amended, which sets out the measures to be implemented, in particular for access, cargo, mail, supplies, aircraft, and staff training.

At the international level, ICAO Annex 17 defines the standards and recommended practices for the protection of civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference. These provisions are supplemented by national requirements applicable to the various stakeholders and activities concerned.

Which companies are concerned by civil aviation security?

Airport security obligations may apply both to operators present at an airport and to companies involved in the transport, cargo, or supply of aircraft.

The following are notably concerned:

aerodrome operators, responsible for implementing security measures on their platform;
air carriers and airlines;
regulated agents, who participate in securing air cargo and mail;
known shippers;
approved suppliers and known suppliers for aircraft supplies or airport provisions;
air cargo carriers, freight forwarders, and other actors in the logistics chain;
companies or organizations authorized to operate airside or in areas subject to specific access measures.

Applicable requirements depend on the organization's status, its activities, and its level of involvement in the civil aviation security chain.

How to maintain compliance of your security measures?

Compliance in airport security is not limited to the initial implementation of measures. Their application must be regularly monitored in order to identify deviations and verify that procedures remain appropriate to the organization's activities.

Maintaining compliance relies in particular on:

periodic and independent internal audits of security measures;
monitoring of the quality assurance programme and of existing procedures;
identification of deviations and definition of the necessary corrective actions;
initial and recurrent training of managers, supervisors, and relevant personnel.

These mechanisms make it possible to verify over time the proper application of security measures and to adapt practices when deviations or changes in activity are identified.

How does Bureau Veritas support you in airport security?

Bureau Veritas supports civil aviation stakeholders in achieving compliance, maintaining their security systems, and developing the skills of their teams.

Depending on the needs of the organization, this support may include :

assistance in obtaining or maintaining a security approval, where required;
performing an initial diagnostic to identify deviations and define the actions needed to achieve compliance;
formalizing or updating security programmes, quality assurance arrangements, and training plans;
training managers, supervisors, and relevant personnel in the applicable security measures;
performing periodic and independent internal audits to verify the proper application of the measures in place;
supporting the definition and monitoring of the corrective actions needed to maintain compliance.

Why choose Bureau Veritas for your airport security challenges?

A dedicated expertise in civil aviation security
Bureau Veritas teams understand the requirements applicable to the various civil aviation stakeholders and the operational challenges associated with their implementation.

An independent intervention
As an independent third party, Bureau Veritas provides an impartial view of existing systems in order to identify deviations and points requiring attention.

Recognized experience in aeronautics
For 100 years, Bureau Veritas has supported companies in the aeronautical and space sectors, as well as civil aviation stakeholders, on matters of compliance, quality, and risk management.

An international network
Present in more than 140 countries, Bureau Veritas can support organizations with multiple sites or operating in different countries.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions on Airport Security

What is the difference between airport security and aviation safety?

Airport security aims to protect civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference, such as intrusions, malicious acts, attacks on cargo, or attempts to introduce prohibited items.

Aviation safety concerns the prevention of accidents and incidents related to the operation of aircraft, such as a technical failure, a maintenance error, an operational problem, or a risk linked to flight conditions.

Security therefore addresses intentional threats, while safety aims to manage accidental risks.
Who is responsible for airport security?
In France, the DGAC (Direction générale de l'Aviation civile) defines and supervises the framework applicable to civil aviation security. However, its implementation rests on shared responsibility among the various stakeholders concerned.

The following are notably responsible for applying the measures corresponding to their activity:
- aerodrome operators;
- air carriers;
- regulated agents;
- known shippers;
- approved suppliers and certain suppliers operating in the airport chain.
Depending on their status, these organizations must in particular ensure the protection of access points, aircraft, cargo, mail, or supplies against acts of unlawful interference.
What role do training and internal control play in airport security?
Training and internal control are two essential levers for maintaining the effectiveness of airport security measures over time.

They make it possible in particular to:
- train the relevant personnel so that they know the procedures, the measures applicable to their activity, and the expected behaviours;
- verify the application of security measures through regular internal controls that identify deviations and define the necessary corrective actions.
Bureau Veritas offers training courses dedicated to managers, supervisors, and personnel concerned by security measures. Its teams can also carry out periodic and independent internal audits to assess the application of the systems in place.