Functions of Aviation Security and Facilitation Directorate (ASFD)
- Civil aviation security sole objective is to prevent criminal activity on aircraft and in aerodromes. Criminal activity includes acts such as hijacking (air piracy), damaging or destroying aircraft and nearby areas with bombs, and assaulting passengers and aviation employees.
Facilitation, the field of civil aviation is understood to be the combination of measures, plans and resources intended to improve and optimize aircraft, crew, passenger, and cargo flows at airports while ensuring compliance with relevant international and national legislation.
- + Establish and implement the National Civil Aviation Security Programme and National Facilitation Programme in consultation with the other relevant authorities and the National Civil Aviation Security/Facilitation Committee;
+ Ensure the establishment and implementation of an Airport Security Programme and Airport Facilitation Programme for each airport serving civil aviation. For this purpose, Directorate shall communicate the relevant portion of the NCASP and/or National FAL Programme to each airport administration and operator, shall review and approve an Airport Security Programme/Airport FAL Programme for each airport, and shall ensure its full implementation through regular inspections or audits. The Directorate shall also arrange for the establishment of an Airport Security Committee and/or Airport Facilitation Committee at each airport serving civil aviation, to advise on security measures at such airport;
+ Define and allocate the tasks for the implementation of the NCASP/National FAL Programme amongst the authorities, airport administrations or operators, aircraft operators, and other entities and persons involved in the programme;
+ Ensure the establishment and implementation of an Aircraft Operator Security Programme for each aircraft operator, which shall cover passenger, baggage and cargo, courier, express parcels, mail, as well as aircraft catering and cleaning operations; for this purpose, it shall communicate the relevant portion of the NCASP to each such operator, shall review and approve an Aircraft Operator Security Programme for each such operator, and shall ensure its full implementation through regular inspections or audits;
+ Ensure that the airport security services at airports are provided with the necessary facilities, including office space, telecommunications equipment, appropriate security equipment and training facilities;
+ Ensure that architectural and infrastructure-related requirements necessary for the effective implementation of aviation security measures are integrated into the design and construction of new facilities and any modification of existing facilities at any airport;
+ Establish and implement a National Civil Aviation Security Training Programme (NSTP), for the training of personnel involved in or responsible for the implementation of aviation security measures pursuant to the NCASP;
+ Establish and implement a National Civil Aviation Security Quality Control Programme (NSQP), for the measuring of compliance with and the validation of the effectiveness of the NCASP;
+ Periodically review and maintain the effectiveness of the NCASP, including the reevaluation and adjustment where necessary of security measures in the light of acts of unlawful interference or attempts thereof, and the taking of action as necessary to counter any perceived threats;
+ Periodically review and maintain the effectiveness of the NSTP and NSQP, including their re-evaluation and adjustment where necessary;
+ Keep under constant review the level of threat to civil aviation operations within its territory and establish and implement policies and procedures to adjust relevant elements of its NCASP accordingly, based on a security risk assessment carried out by the Authority;
+ Take the measures necessary for a rapid response to any increased security threat to civil aviation, including the establishment of a rapid response team where appropriate;
+ Require the maintenance of records of any act of unlawful interference and of any security incident, including any cases of non-compliance with the requirements of the NCASP.
