Airspace over all sensitive areas closed

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 17. As part of the strictest-ever aviation security measures imposed in the country after the terrorist attacks in the U.S., the airspace over politically sensitive areas, diplomatic corps area, security installations and business hubs has been closed. Aviation authorities, along with Intelligence agencies are re-defining the prohibited areas in the country.

The threat perception for Air-India and Indian Airlines has been perceived to be high and these two airlines have been advised to tighten security measures. The foremost exercise airlines are expected to carry out is profiling the passengers they fly. Airlines also have to be strict with security instructions about baggage checks, baggage restriction and ladder point checks. Almost all airlines are now carrying sky marshals on board.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has identified 13 airports as hypersensitive, 33 as sensitive and 20 as normal including the four metros. Quick Reaction Teams have been positioned at major hypersensitive airports to repulse any possible terrorist attacks.

To bring uniformity in security procedures and practices, a dedicated force, the Aviation Security Group, is being inducted at all airports in the phased manner, the BCAS Commissioner, Mr. Veeranna Aivally, told The Hindu here today.

Much of the guidelines issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration are also ready in place in India such as deployment of sky marshals, ladder point security checks and replacement of old equipment with state-of-the-art equipment. To prevent tampering of checked-in baggage even after strapping, the BCAS has installed CTVs to keep an eye on the checked-in baggage all the way till it was loaded.

After September 11, more emphasis was being laid on perimeter protection, strict access control and laying of barriers on the approach road to airports. Mr. Aivally said

rather than create panic in passengers, the need was to install confidence by ensuring normalcy in the existing security arrangement. He said in the aftermath of the IC-814 hijacking and the LTTE attack in Colombo in July this year, aviation and security authorities had been working to make aviation safe and secure for passengers.

Authorities were considering a proposal for video conferencing of the Crisis Management Group with some of the hypersensitive airports in the country. By going one step beyond, authorities are planning how not to get into a situation wherein four planes got hijacked in the U.S., did not show up on the radar for more than 30 minutes and there was no interception.

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