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UAE ramps up aviation security

The UAE is taking no chances with civil aviation safety and authorities are keeping a close watch at airports across the country.

This follows the discovery of two parcel bombs on cargo flights here and in Britain over the weekend. Both the explosive devices were found in shipments originating from strife-torn Yemen, and were bound for the US.

Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, on Wednesday said the UAE was using state-of-the-art technology to implement the highest levels of international security standards. ‘‘UAE has endeavoured and practised assisting various states in combating threat to aviation security in every possible way. The UAE also believes that any threat or gap in our aviation security can directly affect the security of other countries,’’ the civil aviation chief said.

The country has also been assisting international civil aviation agencies to address the issue and prevent any future threat to civil aviation.

‘‘Simultaneously, all possible measures as stipulated in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme are being considered internally, in coordination with concerned stakeholders, to ensure the safety of passenger as well as cargo flights operating to and from the UAE,’’ Al Suwaidi said.

The enhanced security measure may not impact trade, but could delay shipments, according to experts.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Christian Koch, Director of International Studies at Dubai’s Gulf Research Center, said: ‘It might delay shipments but it will not impact trade. Past attacks have also not impacted passenger travels as people and goods still need to get from one place to another.’’

He added that flights to Yemen would come under scrutiny following the terror plot. For the region’s airlines, it will be business as usual. ‘‘I believe flights coming in and out of Yemen will be scrutinised more but there is no reason that Middle East air carriers will be more suspect. In the end, everyone wants to feel safe and if this means a further tightening of security measures then people will accept it. The recent incidents were not successful and it shows that the system is working to prevent attacks. Far worse would have been if the attacks had been successful.’’

Shipments

Meanwhile, UAE courier firm Aramex said it was suspending shipments from Yemen. ‘‘Shipments originating from Yemen have been suspended until further notice,’’ Hussein Hachem, chief executive for the firm in the Middle East and Africa region, said in an e-mail.

“We are currently examining the full details of the specific threats and we will put in place procedures to safeguard the movement of our shipments across the network.”

This follows suspension of cargo services to Yemen by cargo majors UPS and FedEx.

Security

A storm is also brewing in the world’s largest cargo firm, UPS, with its pilots’ union blaming the management for alleged lax cargo screening. This was putting pilots’ lives at risk with rising terrorist threats, they said.

“Our crew members deserve a reasonable expectation of safety. We believe that current standards in air cargo screening are inadequate,” CNN quoted Brian Gaudet, spokesman for the Independent Pilots Association, the union for UPS pilots.

US laws make it mandatory for screening all cargo aboard passenger flights, but there is no such requirement for cargo flights.

A company spokesman, responding to queries from this newspaper, said the firm was doing its best to ensure the safety of its employees and cargo. ‘‘UPS employs a multi-layered approach to ensure security. We have processes, systems and procedures in place designed to protect our people, aircraft and customers’ shipments, and they exceed current regulatory requirements. We also work routinely with security agencies all around the world to maintain and enhance security. It would be counter-productive to the effectiveness of our security efforts to discuss them publicly,’’ Mike Mangeot, the firm’s PR manager, said.

allan@khaleejtimes.com

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