Separate Aviation Security Force

PIB Release
31 Aug 2012

Separate Aviation Security Force

Aviation security, in contrast to general security, is a highly technical task. Aviation security is to be carried out as per set standards, contained in Annexure 17 to Chicago Convention of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). For international operations, it is mandatory for the State to enter into a contract with ICAO which binds the Contracting State to abide by the prescribed Standards of security to ensure safeguarding of all civil aviation operations. Further, which implementing the security, the provisions dealing with facilitation of passengers in Annex 9 to the same Convention have to be kept in view. This is possible only through a highly specialized, professionally competent and dedicated force. Ministry of Civil Aviation had recently engaged the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) expert team to study Aviation Security arrangements and Procedures in India. The objective of the project was to review the (i) restructuring of administration of the existing Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (ii) setting up of a dedicated Aviation Security Force (iii) to design a robust operational framework for aviation security, striking the right balance between Aviation Security and passenger facilitation, taking into account the various airport operation models in India as well as models in other countries, and (iv) to propose alternative mechanism. If any, to discharge non-core security functions in airports. The estimation of expenditure in creation of infrastructure for training the new force/recurring expenditure in creation of infrastructure for training the new force/recurring expenditure for maintenance of this force is being worked out. The average cost of the new ASF is likely to be much less than the cost on CISF, presently deployed at 59 airports in the country. An expert team of Consultants from ICAO was engaged in 2010 to study the restructuring of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and other aspects relating to aviation security in India. The ICAO study report was submitted on 26th August, 2011 which has been accepted by the Government and action on these recommendations has also been initiated. This information was given by the Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ajit Singh in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. … MA/VN (Release ID :87149)http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=0