Open architecture could benefit airport security

Regulators and airport operators from across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East say they have joined forces to promote the introduction of open architecture in airport security systems.

In a recently published paper, prepared by Heathrow Airport Limited and Avinor AS and endorsed by a wide range of regulators and airport stakeholders, the authors and collaborators state that a safe and secure aviation system is the foundation of the global economy.

It notes that the security threat to this system is real and continues to evolve, with technology changing the way the world and those with malicious intent operate. The document sets out broad guidelines for how airport security systems can share data and how airports can work with partners to provide a path forward for new, innovative software developers to help defeat terrorism.

TSA administrator David Pekoske, Heathrow Airport CEO John Holland-Kaye and ACI Europe director general Olivier Jankovec said, “The key to our success is the shared ability to collaborate across the public, private and academic sectors. It is through these partnerships that we bring the best technologies and brightest minds together and rise to the collective challenge of outmatching a dynamic threat.”