Govt gets tough on air safety

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Nov. 15

THE Government is considering a host of options to prevent any untoward incident on Indian aircraft including providing the latest communication system inside the aircraft to communicate with the ground staff in a hijack situation and the deployment of sky marshals on Air India flights operating abroad.

Official sources indicated that the permission of the aircraft manufacturers is being obtained for placing the special communication device on aircraft for alerting the ground staff about a possible hijack. Suitable technology is also being identified for the project, sources said.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation relating to aviation security is to be held here on Saturday.

Official sources also indicated that sky marshals should be deployed on AI flights very shortly. The Government started deploying sky marshals on select routes in the Indian skies after the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft in December 1999.

Furthermore, it is planned to have an integrated automated registered baggage screening system that could hasten the process of registered baggage handling. Sources, however, indicated that still more studies had to be undertaken to identify which airports these devices should be initially installed at.

Besides, a Biometric-based Integrated Passenger Profiling System (BIPPS) that will ensure identity of the passenger is also being considered.

In an effort to enhance perimeter protection, the Government is also considering a proposal of placing intrusion detection alarm systems. Official sources said that the Government is examining the system that is available in the Border Security Force and the Army.

A new civil aviation security Act is also being enacted to strengthen security in the country in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines. Sources said that provisions to handle cases like the Purulia arms dropping and exemplary punishment for hoax callers have also been suggested in the new Act.