Normally, an airdrome only requires a flat regular surface upon which planes can land or depart. However, the operations that take place at a commercial airport will require an elaborate set of amenities (Budd & Ison, 2016). The primary operation in an airport is the taking off and landing of planes. These operations require a runway, technology such as radar, and professionals such as flight controllers. The second main operation in an airport is the management of passengers and cargo. This activity requires a terminal for the processing of passengers and their luggage. Similarly, security screening is necessary for any cargo meant for air transport. Among the most important areas of focus in the processing of passengers and luggage is security-related issues. In recent years, air transport has been the target of terrorist attacks. In international airports, the said processing also involves issues relating to customs and excise. Officials from the country of departure coordinate with those of the destination country to regulate and control the passengers and cargo transported between the two nations involved. In the modern age of long-distance international flights, airports also include elaborate amenities such as lounges for international passengers who may not have the authority to travel outside the airport compound. Another important area of operations in any airport is facilitation and support for flights. These operations include emergency services that handle passengers who fall ill during flights or incidents such as fires and planes crashing as they land. These operations also include the maintenance and repair of airplanes (Budd & Ison, 2016). Almost all planes are complex machines that constantly require specialized professional attention. Facilitation and support also include the evaluation and certification of planes for airworthiness. Under current aviation rules and regulations, planes have to adhere to comprehensive parameters set by domestic and international laws before the authorities certify them to take flight.
Ground Handling – Challenges Facing Facility Security
Ground handling is a fundamental operation associated with air travel and one that often creates a number of security challenges. By definition, the term ground handling refers to the activities undertaken on an airplane inside an airport in between flights (Medvedev et al., 2017). These activities include servicing, fueling, repairs, and replenishing necessary amenities such as food and water for the next flight. For a large aircraft such as the Jumbo Jet or the Airbus A380, ground handling is a massive undertaking that requires tens of people and a lot of machinery. During times of the year when there is a higher volume of travelers, ground handling faces an element of urgency. Urgency is among the principal challenges facing facility security for ground handling (Diermeier & Meagher, 2017). The need to hurry compromises the ability to regulate the individuals who work on the plane. Unregulated access or limitations in regulation pose a security challenge. The second challenge for facility security stems from the wide expanse necessary for ground handling. Planes are large both in length due to their shapes and laterally due to their wings. Therefore, packed planes take up a large space, which increases the challenge of regulating access for security purposes (Medvedev et al., 2017). Finally, the sheer number of workers and equipment involved in ground handling also poses a security limit on the ability to effectively limit unauthorized access. For example, when the plane is undergoing ground handling, engineers limb onto its nose to cover pitot tubes, and cleaners will be going in and out of the plane, while caterers will be ferrying supplies. Contemporaneously, tankers will be feeding the fuel tanks while engineers will be working on different parts of the plane. Such sheer volumes of movement will limit the ability to control access to the plane.
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Government Oversight on Air Cargo Security
According to Elias (2018), the US government focuses on two main issues when it comes to cargo security. The first issue is the fear that criminals can blow up cargo planes in areas where they can cause the most damage on the ground, such as over a city. The second is the apprehension that criminals can hijack cargo planes and use them for ramming attacks as happened to passenger jets on September 11, 2001. Due to these apprehensions, the government seeks to play an active role in air cargo security. However, the government has had to stop ts active role in cargo security due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure to cater to the massive volume of air cargo. In the 21 st century, the cost and inconvenience of air travel heightened mainly due to security issues (Budd & Ison, 2016). Instead of traveling, many people prefer to send what they would erstwhile have delivered in person. The proliferation of online shopping has also exponentially expanded the air cargo business. As the government cannot directly vet a large amount of transit cargo, it now mainly plays an oversight role. In most cases, the government relies on cargo transport businesses to vet the goods they transport including through Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) systems. Recent laws such as the Homeland Security Authorization Act and the Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2017 provide the government with powers to enforce the use of ACAS (Elias, 2018). Such laws enable private companies in the airline industry to play an important role in airport security.
Economic Impact
Airport security has created thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly. The number of people needed to undertake the screening of passengers and cargo has increased, as compared to the mid-20 th century. Airport security has also exponentially expanded the security gadgets and software industry due to the need for better and more effective screening systems (Vasigh & Fleming, 2016). Finally, tighter airport security has also expanded the air cargo industry, as many people prefer to send rather than deliver goods.
Tighter airport security has contributed to a massive waste of potentially productive hours, an issue that may cumulatively affects the productivity of frequent fliers. Travelers have to check in much earlier due to the security screens, hence spending time on the airport that they would have otherwise invested in the places of work. Further, due to security protocols and rules, flights be delayed due to terror fears (Vasigh & Fleming, 2016). For example, if security staff cannot identify the owner of luggage that is already on the plane, such a discrepancy will trigger a delay. Another economic impact revolves around diversion of resources from development purposes to security purposes. Improving security does not add value to the aviation industry yet it comes at a great expense. Such monies would serve other more economically viable purposes such as expanding hangers or building better runways. Finally, the rigors associated with flying due to security measures discourage people from traveling. Lower volumes of passengers are detrimental to airlines under the concept of economies of scale. People also lose opportunities that require frequent flying as they try to avoid the nuisance of security checks.
Airport Security and its challenges
Airports are supposed to be highly secure locations where each individual or item going through the airport undergoes comprehensive vetting. However, airport security faces the six interrelated challenges of size, volume, time, cost, laws, and criminal ingenuity. First, the increased popularity of air travel and urbanization has led to the creation of large airports, some of which cover thousands of hectares. The sheer size of such a facility makes is not only hard by expensive to ensure absolute security. Even with the best of efforts, authorities struggle to secure airports effectively.
The volume of passengers and luggage passing through airports is also a major challenge for facility security (Diermeier & Meagher, 2017). Major airports handle large numbers of passengers and vast amounts of luggage either accompanying passengers or on transit. The processing of these passengers and goods involves other issues such as customs and payments, which augments the workload. Due to the said large volume, it becomes difficult and expensive for security apparatus to vet each passenger or consignment carefully, leading to security lapses. The volume issue is complicated by the time constraints associated with airports. Most modern airports are like carefully times conveyor belt where each plane has to depart at a specified time. Officials handling security have to balance between screening passengers and goods on the one hand and avoiding delays on the other. The sense of urgency will often compromise thoroughness in security screenings.
To overcome the challenge caused by the combination of large volumes and time constraints, security officials have to invest in technology, which raises the issue of cost. Security screens can be faster and more accurate using computerized machines and software programs that flag suspicious items for further scrutiny. However, such technology comes at a high cost and it will require regular updates and upgrades to factor in evolving security threats. Cost implications of using the best available technology thus present another major challenge (Diermeier & Meagher, 2017). Similarly, some of the approaches necessary to vet passengers and goods for security purposes also face legal challenges in an issue such as breach of privacy or fundamental rights. Disgruntled passengers can institute legal action for breach of fundamental rights to the detriment of the organizations running the airport. Finally, facility security in any airport faces challenges posed by the ingenuity of modern criminals. Terrorists, smugglers and other criminals will apply innovative strategies to penetrate security systems to carry out their nefarious acts. Trying to keep up with the evolving criminal strategies poses yet another challenge for security officials.
Cargo Operations
Cargo operations in the airline industry refer to the process of moving unaccompanied goods from one airport to the other, both domestically and internationally. Cargo operations have had a major surge in recent years, mainly due to advancements in information technology. Traditionally, it was necessary for an individual to travel with their cargo from place to place due to the need for human inference in the acquisition of the cargo. Due to advancements in information technology, a chain of coffee shops in the USA can wholly rely on a coffee farmer in Colombia without the two entities ever having to meet. The two can communicate online, and make all necessary payments through the internet. A designated cargo operator can then transport the coffee from Colombia to the USA. The need for specialization and cutting of costs is also another important driver for the rise of cargo operations business. Under the concept of economies of scale, an organization that specializes in the transportation of cargo-only can move goods in bulk and at a lower cost (Mantalis et al., 2016). Further, as indicated above, online shopping is also a major driver of cargo operations. Finally, transportation of goods also involves legal and regulatory challenges, hence the need for cargo operators to handle logistics. For example, governments and local authorities have laws, rules and regulations in place to regulate the movement of hazardous substances such as chemicals or industrial waste. It would be inordinately expensive for an entity that only transports such substances on a regular basis to apply for the kind of licensing necessary to move such substance. A cheaper option is to engage a cargo operator to undertake transportation at a fee (Mantalis et al., 2016). Due to the factors outlined above, cargo operations are an important component of any modern economy.
Impact of Air Cargo Disruptions on the Supply Chain
Modern supply chains are a carefully organized and calibrated system that needs to work flawlessly for the organization to succeed. Air cargo is an important component of many supply chains as it provides a fast, safe and reliable means of transport. In most cases, the item, relying on air transport is only one among other components necessary for the supply chain to be complete. For example, in an oil refinery, the company will normally use other forms of transport such as tankers or pipelines to transport crude oil. Air cargo may play roles such as providing the chemicals necessary for fractional distillation. In the case of air cargo disruptions, the company will no longer be able to process their crude oil for the duration of the disruption. The disruption will thus affect several aspects of the supply chain. First, the company will need either to stop transporting oil, or require a place to store the oil that they are transporting and not processing. Either of the two options will come at an expense to the company. Secondly, the amenities put in place to refine the oil and transport the refined oil to the customers will be idle, despite accruing costs to the company. Simultaneously, the company will not be able to meet its deadlines due to the delays occasioned. Seeking to meet the deadlines may leading to spending up processing which will both increase cost and probably affect product quality. Just as with this example the disruption of air cargo transport can cause ramifications on the supply chain whose value far supersedes the cost of the good stuck in transit (Sawik, 2017).
References
Budd, L., & Ison, S. (Eds.). (2016). Air transport management: an international perspective . New York: Taylor & Francis.
Diermeier, D., & Meagher, E. (2017). San Francisco International Airport and Quantum Secure’s SAFE for Aviation System: Making the Business Case for Corporate Security. Kellogg School of Management Cases , 1-12.
Elias, B. (2018). Security of Air Cargo Shipments, Operations, and Facilities (No. R45082).
Mantalis, G., Garefalakis, A., Christos, L., Vassakis, K., & Xanthos, G. (2016). Efficiency and ship class of shipping companies: The case of Greek-owned shipping companies. International Journal of Supply Chain Management , 5 (4), 78-84.
Medvedev, A., Alomar, I., & Augustyn, S. (2017). Innovation in airport design. Aviation , 21 (1), 23-28.
Sawik, T. (2017). Supply Chain Disruption Management Using Stochastic Mixed Integer Programming (Vol. 256). Springer.
Vasigh, B., & Fleming, K. (2016). Introduction to Air Transport Economics: From Theory to Applications . New York: Routledge.
