aviation discussion questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NMnnMRWJ-0&list=PL2E3ktkpAeeZlDJFe0q1VidLqZfRwjITp&index=21&t=1s

The theme of this chapter is “what doesnʼt kill you tries to kill you again.”

In the first edition this was one chapter. It has been expanded into two. This chapter focuses on the existing and emerging threats along with new tactics and techniques in terrorism defense planning.

There is a YouTube clip titled “no Russians” which is a short video from the video game Modern Warfare. It shows an active shooter assault on airport. It can be difficult to watch, particularly for those that do not play those types of video games, but does make an effective argument for this chapter and is a good attention getter.

And exercise that is popular for this chapter is to put the students in groups, and send one group into another room. Have the groups then develop their own types of attacks on aviation and include the logistics.

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THREAT MATRIX

Significant monetary resources since 9/11 to fix the aviation security system

Responsibility to detect / deter terrorist criminal acts, but resiliency?

Modern terrorism – Internet / highly advanced technologies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjG1n9FEDb0

What is the most dangerous threat to aviation?

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The United States has expended significant monetary resources since 9-11 to "fix" the aviation security system; however, as a nation the United States has much more work ahead in developing security systems that can mitigate future threats.

Although part of our responsibility is to detect and deter terrorist and criminal acts, it is also part of our responsibility to build resiliency into the  aviation security system such that responses are rapid and effective when a terrorist or criminal act occurs.

Terrorism is a way to inflict harm on a country or entity with little risk to the infrastructure of the terrorist organization. Whenever a citizen sees heightened security, he or she is reminded of the attack that caused the new procedures and may continue to fear another attack.

Modern terrorism uses the Internet and other highly advanced technologies along with unconventional forms of implementing an attack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjG1n9FEDb0

Therefore, threats can no longer be eliminated through military power. Defeating current and future threats to our global aviation system requires strategies that combine military force where applicable and the construction of a resilient infrastructure.

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THREAT MATRIX

Threat is unstoppable

GA and the use of GA aircraft

"Isn't it easier to rent a truck and fill it with explosives than it is to rent or steal an aircraft?"

Suicide bombers

"You cannot stop someone who is totally committed to attacking you and killing themselves in the process."

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The most dangerous threat to aviation is perhaps the belief that a threat is unstoppable.

Although commonly believed, neither of these statements helps prevent the next attack on aviation. The first statement does not negate our responsibility to prevent an aircraft from being used in a terrorist attack, whether it is a commercial service or GA aircraft. In the second case, whereas some terrorists will die for their cause, they will not "donate their lives cheaply."

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RELATIVE SUPERIORITY

Condition that exists when an attacking force, generally smaller, gains a decisive advantage over a larger or well-defended enemy.

Terrorist have planning, research, execution stages “SARA”

Six principles affect relative superiority

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McRaven posits that in order for a small force to be successful they need to acquire what is known as relative superiority (McRaven, 1996), which he describes as a condition that exists when an attacking force, generally smaller, gains a decisive advantage over a larger or well-defended enemy. Relative superiority exists when it is achieved at the pivotal moment in the engagement and once achieved, sustained in order to guarantee victory.

McRaven explains how six principles, simplicity, security, repetition, surprise, speed and purpose, affect relative superiority. Each of these principles relate to the perspective of aviation security practitioners in designing methods to deter or effectively respond to a terrorist or criminal incident.

Terrorists have a planning stage (target selection, analyzing and assessing the mission), a research (reconnaissance) and planning stage, and an execution stage (the attack), and that the use of all the stages are inseparable and integrated (Ronczkowski, 2012). Thus, the four stages within the terrorism model are: Select target, Analyze and assess, Research and Attack (SARA).

In the absence of the integration the mission will fail. Terrorists do not randomly and spontaneously pick their targets – they are selective in order to maximize the tragedy. This provides law enforcement and security personnel the advantage of being able to identify and deter a plot in advance of the attack.

Simplicity relies on three elements – focusing on a limited number of objectives, having good intelligence and using innovation.

Security relates to operational security (OPSEC) while the attack is being planned and pieces put into place (training, acquisition of materials, funding).

Repetition is indispensable in achieving success and relates to training to perform the operation.

Surprise is not the same as relative superiority. Surprise provides for momentary advantage and while usually necessary for success, is alone is not sufficient for success.

Speed, which also relies on proper security and constant repetition (i.e. training) relates to the ability to take action quickly.

Purpose means all personnel are focused on a single goal, which reduces extraneous objectives, isolates and limits the intelligence required, which, combined, makes operational security that much tighter.

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Domestic / international terrorist groups

Recruitment

Preliminary organization and planning

Preparatory conduct

Terrorist act

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Domestic and international terrorist group activities include (Ronczkowski, 2012):

Recruitment: membership of a group, attendance at rallies and meetings, exposure to Internet recruiting or informational sites, personal recruitment and accessing extremist literature

Preliminary organization and planning: identify and clarify roles, exposure to terrorist training materials or actual training, discussion of potential targets, drawings, assignments

Even the lone-wolf operator, usually the hardest to interdict, must begin with some type of target selection (planning), acquisition of weapons or explosives (preparation) and the attack (execution).

Preparatory conduct: theft and weapon acquisition, counterfeiting, procuring identification, bomb-related activities and weapon modifying

Terrorist act: bombings assassinations, hostage taking, hoaxes, threats, hijackings

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Communities

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SjX2ZXMnY&list=PL2E3ktkpAeeZlDJFe0q1VidLqZfRwjITp&index=34

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EXISTING THREATS

AIRCRAFT BOMBING – Passenger, Baggage, and Cargo

Security Screening checked point

Checked baggage screening

BOMB THREATS – Airline

Specific or non?

AIRPORT ASSAULT

The third most frequent attack

AIRCRAFT HIJACKINGS – Airline

5-10 attempts each year worldwide

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In 2006, the TSA stated that bombings were a greater threat to aviation security than hijackings. Bombs continue to be one of the most popular weapons of terror and remain an active current threat. The TSA has implemented an operational solution in the form of restricting the amount of liquid that can be taken onboard and conducting random use of explosive trace detection technologies. These processes are inconvenient to travelers and not as effective as they need to be to prevent a bombing.

The security screening checkpoint must be outfitted with technology that will detect explosives and metal on a passenger, and with technology that provides a better look inside carry-on baggage—technology that can distinguish between dangerous liquids and other substances from nonthreat items.

Checked baggage screening technologies are effective at identifying many prohibited materials, and these systems should continue to be implemented, inline to the automated baggage systems, wherever possible.

Focus must shift to the other methods a bomb can be introduced to an aircraft as terrorists and criminals will shift to the path of least resistance, which right now is represented primarily by cargo, mail, and placement of a device by an aviation employee.

There are programs that require random screening of airport workers by TSA personnel to counteract this threat.

Bomb threats to an airline, an industry that relies heavily on-time performance, can be a major disruption as flights are delayed or canceled across the national airspace system, personnel and resources are diverted for hours to handle the crisis, and other airport operations are interrupted.

Presently, handling the bomb threat from the air carrier perspective depends on where the call comes in. A call to:

An airport authority - will result in the airport responding by notifying air carriers and the CATSA/RCMP.

The airline - may not result in notification to the airport or other agencies.

If the threat is clearly a hoax or so unspecific as to not warrant further action, determined through a vetting process conducted by the airline security personnel, the airline may elect to not notify other agencies.

When an aircraft operator receives a bomb threat, the in-flight security coordinator of the flight in question must be notified, and any applicable threat measures that are part of the aircraft operators’ security program must be implemented.

The aircraft operator must also notify the airport operator at its intended point of landing when an aircraft has received a threat. The aircraft operator must attempt to determine whether any explosive or incendiary device is present by conducting a security inspection on the ground before the aircraft’s next flight, or if already in flight, as soon as possible after landing.

If an aircraft in flight receives a bomb threat or notification from the ground that a bomb may be onboard, the flight crew must be immediately notified so that in-flight security precautions may be taken. This may involve the movement of a suspicious package or item to an area of the aircraft known as the least risk bomb location (LRBL), where the aircraft manufacturer has determined that an explosion will result in the least damage to the aircraft.

If a threat is received and related to the facilities used by an aircraft operator, the airport operator must be immediately notified, along with the other domestic and foreign aircraft operators at that specific airport. The aircraft operator must conduct a security inspection before continuing to use the threatened facilities or areas.

To continue to reduce the hijacking threat, consideration should be given to requiring airline personnel to receive hands-on self-defense training and to allow local and state law enforcement officers to carry their weapons onboard.

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Managing a hijack incident

Most strategies are confidential

Keep it on the ground

Move to an isolated parking position

Flight crew – attempt to disable the aircraft

Barricade should be place around the aircraft

If airborne…

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Most strategies for managing hijack incidents are confidential and should not be made public.

Conventional wisdom and lessons learned are not a secret; if the incident occurs when the aircraft is still on the ground, the strategy is to do everything possible to keep it there. Response should include:

Moving the aircraft to an isolated parking position (IPP)

The flight crew should attempt to disable the aircraft.

Barricades should be placed around the aircraft to prevent it from taking off

Once the aircraft is airborne, numerous variables come into play, including the potential that the aircraft will be used as a weapon or that it will be shot down by military aircraft.

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Emerging conventional threats

Military facilities, embassies, hotels, businesses

Should be assumed similar attacks could be used against aviation

Airport attack – Improvised Explosive Device

Continue to be the most common weapon, significant challenge in identifying an IED

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