Electronic borders lead the fight against international terrorism

National law enforcement agencies already have their work cut out preventing terrorist activity within their own borders. No wonder more and more governments are demanding that all available technology is employed to prevent importing undesirables from other countries – with suspected terrorists and those involved in related activities such as organised crime and drug trafficking top of the list. And with aircraft passenger numbers alone forecast to reach 2.28 billion in 2010, reliable systems for secure and streamlined processing are critical.

Just such a system is available from master systems integrator ARINC, which has been helping to develop and implement security solutions for commercial, government, and defence industries for many years. Its versatile Electronic Borders immigration data service portfolio provides a comprehensive passenger-screening solution that meets the needs of border control agencies, airlines and ports around the world.

Electronic borders with impeccable credentials
The low-cost Electronic Borders service is comprised of three elements – Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), Interactive APIS (iAPIS) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) processing.

Its credentials were established when components from the Electronic Borders portfolio were used in a pilot project carried out by the UK government that triggered over 20,000 alerts and more than 3,000 arrests.

The common-language application overcomes multiple international data requirements by translating messages from disparate agencies and systems, providing a unique solution that meets international immigration demands with a single interface.

APIS is designed to capture biographic data and travel details of all passengers and crew members on commercial and charter airlines and cruise ships prior to their departure. Using International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-defined machine-readable zones (MRZs) on passports, the information is stored and processed electronically. The data is then translated into the relevant border control agency formats to be checked in the destination country against computer databases and watch lists and used for immigration processing, security and customs purposes.

Many governments, including the USA, Spain, China, Syria, Kenya and Morocco, now insist on API before they will allow travellers to enter their country. Some governments require API only from airlines flying particular routes that are deemed to be high risk. Carriers failing to provide such information can expect a hefty per-passenger fine for each transgression.

API + PNR = maximised security
While API performs an important security function, making it easier to process low-risk travellers and harder for unauthorised or suspect passengers to slip through the net, the information is only forwarded to the destination country after take-off. Such post-departure risk assessment leaves an aircraft open to a costly and disruptive recall or diversion if checks against watch lists reveal a suspect passenger.

Interactive iAPIS solves this dilemma by allowing airline staff to conduct a real-time pre-boarding check against immigration databases as well as circulating the information to relevant agencies – police forces, Customs officers, Interpol and intelligence services. No boarding pass will be issued to a passenger until specific authorisation is received.

The information for PNRs is drawn from the airline reservation system, providing details of how and by whom tickets are booked and paid for, as well as relevant addresses and telephone numbers. Together, PNR and API maximise security by giving border control agencies, law enforcement organisations and intelligence services a valuable head-start on checking names against watch lists, highlighting suspect travel patterns, assessing potential risks and locating suspects.

Secure data transmission
While data protection issues are a real concern for passengers, transmission through ARINC’s fully-managed AviNet global communications and message switching network gives the end-to-end security that is not feasible with a public internet connection. This allows carriers to meet their legal obligations while protecting passenger privacy.

Thereafter the situation is less clear-cut. While there are international guidelines on how the data may be used by law enforcement agencies, and the European Union has strict regulations covering the use and storage of data, some countries undoubtedly interpret the guidelines more leniently.

Among the governments using ARINC’s immigration data services are Bermuda, South Korea, the USA, the UK, CARICOM, Spain, Hong Kong and a number of European and South American countries.

Flexible and scalable
The service can be tailored and scaled to meet specific customer requirements while simultaneously complying with industry standards and guidelines defined by international trade organisations and governments. Airlines can select the service that best suits them – Type A Host to Host, Type A Host to Terminal, Type B and the manual method. ARINC can also provide a network protocol conversion service or any customised data format required. This flexibility aids project implementation by taking into account the requirements and budgets of individual airlines.

In today’s unstable world, information exchange, risk assessment, cooperation between governments and carriers and global harmonization of standards are key factors in maintaining effective vigilance against terrorist threats. Electronic Borders is just one of ARINC’s cutting edge technology solutions designed to enhance security throughout the entire travel process.

For more information
Web: www.arinc.com/secure
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