Aviation safety and security conference and exhibition (Part 2 – Exhibition)

Citation

(2005), "Aviation safety and security conference and exhibition (Part 2 – Exhibition)", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 77 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2005.12777cac.002

Aviation safety and security conference and exhibition (Part 2 – Exhibition)

Aviation safety and security conference and exhibition (Part 2 – Exhibition)

Keywords: Aircraft, Safety, Conferences

The exhibition provided a valuable background to the descriptions of current and emerging technologies and pointed the way to a wide variety of systems under development which will cater for the increasing volume of air traffic in the years ahead. The selection of companies mentioned is in alphabetical order and will hopefully indicate the broad scope of the exhibits.

CEM Systems of Belfast, NI, designs and develops tailored access control systems in use at airports worldwide. A notable example is the AC2000 Airport Edition which uses a suite of extended business applications which integrates with external systems. It encompasses the following: Check in desk enabling, passenger segregation, airbridge monitoring, passenger reconciliation, panic button facility, taxi management, vehicle occupancy, rolling transaction display, vehicle management, contractors module, direct link to airport invoicing, and car parking facility. A recent order extends the AC2000 AE system at Gatwick Airport to cover the new Pier 6 Development. The project will create a satellite building providing 11 pier- served aircraft stands and include the largest air passenger bridge crossing man airfield in the world.

Deister Electronic (UK), provide a complete range of RF solutions to the safety, security and manufacturing industries. One example is key control in the proxSafe maxx key cabinet in which the terminal stores information about users, keys and access rights. User access can be by proximity card, PIN number of both should a higher level of security be required. A display and menu system provides a simple yet versatile means to access the system.

Farran Technology showed the Tadar New Millimetre-Wave People Screening Camera which produces high quality raster images. Millimetre-wave technology has the ability to detect explosives, ceramics and metals and uses only safe, natural energy reflection. Its sensors detect energy at 3mm wavelengths, that is naturally emitted or reflected from objects, like the sensing of a warm handshake. At this wavelength clothes become transparent but such as explosives and hidden weapons block the body's natural radiation and reflect a clear profile of the blocked energy field.

Digital video surveillance has been developed by the international Anixter company which says that traditional CCTV equipment has not been redesigned or updated for some considerable time. Anixter is therefore introducing closed circuit twisted pair (CCTP) video surveillance which has the approach that incorporates security camera cabling into the well-established structured cabling network architecture. The previous approach is both cumbersome and inflexible while the CCTP solution has a centralised power solution that eliminates any performance issues relating to power cameras.

The data communications technology used for the Anixter CCTP concept has video and controls carried on an ANS/ TIA/EIA and ISO single standards compliant four-pair twisted pair cable that meets Cat 6/Class E performance requirements. The CCTP system employs a short hybrid patch card and a modified information outlet at the camera location. The Cat 6/Class E data cabling runs from the camera outlet to the nearest telecom/data closet where patch panels are used to connect to active electronics. This is identical to the permanent horizontal link for data/voice cabling defined by international standards. Although CCTP was initially developed indoor camera applications, Anixter does have a fibre-optic version that can accommodate extended indoor camera runs that exceed the previous limit of 100m as well as outdoor applications up to 30m.

The FLIR organisation which has outlets in many countries, produces the ThermoVision Security HD high resolution thermal and daylight camera system. Thermal imaging provides a level of threat detection that cannot be matched by any other sensor and the system is designed for integration into existing security networks or as a “stand alone” surveillance package. Operators can control the cameras and pan-tilt with a control unit or over the internet. The benefits of wide screen formatting are offered, which give the operator improved situational awareness and the thermal imager can be configured with narrow or wide angle lenses as needed.

Honey well Video Systems (UK) showed the “Enterprise” solution which combines CCTV, Access Control, Public Address and Intercom capabilities, with Telecommunications, Corporate Networks and Alarm Management Facilities. The CCTV solutions have an extensive range of equipment to cater for every type of application, including switchers, digital video and audio recorders and data transceivers. Engineering services include all Honeywell Enterprise equipments and there is a UK-based R&D team to develop specific solutions for local customers. Whatever the size of the application the Honeywell Access Control product lines offer a suitable level of functionality.

Optex (Europe) illustrated their range of intruder detection products including PIR, combination and visual confirmation detectors, sensors and photobeams. The passive infrared (PIR) detectors included the Cx-702/ 702RS series which is designed to give very stable long-range detection performance in a variety of internal applications. Sensitivity is maintained over a wide temperature range and a high level of false alarm protection is guaranteed. Another range is the outdoor PIR detectors of which an advanced model employs a highly reliable dual detection method which prevents false activations from small animals and birds. Two discrete detection areas are created and only when an intruder is detected in both areas is an alarm output provided. Another version has all these functions and in addition, provides a detector- activated voices announcement facility.

Preston Aviation Solutions with facilities in Europe, USA and Asia- Pacific (a Boeing company), offered gate-to-gate simulation solutions which for airport operators reduce congestion and delays, measure and improve current and future airport capacity and plan all manner of facilities such as separation standards, noise abatement and provision for new large aircraft. This system of fast time simulation is a necessary precursor to and in many cases an adequate replacement for realtime simulation. For airlines, such a system enable planning of operations, fleet changes, aircraft substitutions, de- icing and other procedures in the most cost-effective way. The many uses of this type of simulation include the introduction of regional jets and other fleet mix changes, evaluation of past day's performance, and the analysis of proposals put forward by air service providers.

Megadoor AB is a fully owned subsidiary of the Swedish Cardo Door AB which supplies worldwide and includes civil aviation as well as military applications. Hangar doors must be highly reliable since it is an integral part of airline operations and ontime performance. Shaped hangars and flexible designs are features of these doors as well as low air filtration and the need for minimal maintenance combined with a unique operating system.

Phonak Communications AB is a Swiss company specializing in extreme miniaturization of wireless communications systems. Its development and marketing activities encompass security products including the smallest narrow-band RF receivers available. These include a range of microEar VHF receivers which fit comfortably in the ear and allow the receipt of information directly and discreetly without the need to carry additional equipment. The features include squelch, noise filtering and automatic frequency control (AFC) and a custom made 1C allows the receivers to be powered with only a single 1.4V battery cell.

The well-known Rapiscan range of systems were well represented. These included the Secure 1000 which is a personnel screening system which is non-intrusive and designed to detect metallic and non-metallic objects under a person's clothing. The turnkey system offers numerous advantages over metal detectors and “pat down” searches for airports, etc. The Secure 1000 clearly shows the size, shape and location of the offending object and also can detect much smaller amounts of metal as well as different forms of metal including solids, powders and liquid slurries. Another product illustrated was the Rapiscan 620R which includes the ergonomic design and intuitive user interface and addresses the ease-of-use and occupational health and safety needs of operators. Modular assembly and new x-ray detectors as well as software algorithms deliver high levels of threat detection and material separation.

Red Box International of Hampshire provides specialist search equipment for many purposes including a range of Camera products, among them the Red Box Snake Cam system which comprises a lightweight, waterproof CCD camera and an extensive range of supporting equipment items. These enable operators to select those which meet their needs. The system can be attached to any model of borescope or fiberscope for reaching through small apertures. The inspection camera has inbuilt cold LED lights and is able to operate in complete darkness and the compact display unit has a rotating screen so that, regardless of the camera orientation, the picture can always be viewed “head-up”. Other products include the Remote Control Cam which is a portable entry level robot which offers a simple and effective stereoscopic imaging system which can include an Add Depth Sensor that transmits images using low bandwidth technology.

Useful airport technology is supplied by Robson of Sheffield which supplies a range of systems including 100 per cent Hold Baggage Screening facilities that can include bag separation and overhead detection and secure integration of third party X-ray machine and various levels of screening. Transport of bags is provided with powered curves to negotiate bends and also queuing conveyors space the bags appropriately on the way to the X- ray screening and sortation sections. Baggage cart conveyors are also supplied in which Robson's design is based on a belt conveyor with chain- driven continuous side grippers to hold the carts firmly in position.

Smiths Detection illustrated a number of recent initiatives, one of which is in partnership with TeraView to develop a hand-held security wand that utilizes terahertz light waves to detect and identify metallic and non- metallic weapons, as well as bulk and sheet explosives that are concealed in any way. The terahertz light employed lies between microwave and infrared in the electromagnetic spectrum and has a number of properties that include the ability to pass through clothing, paper and plastics to detect objects and also allows substances such as explosives to be identified from characteristic spectral “fingerprints”.

Part of the worldwide organization, Thales Security Systems produce the TRACS-TDMA high speed tracking and data communications system, for fleet management. Time Division Multiple Access technology is combined with differential GPS accuracy and UHF or VHP communications (12.5 or 25kHz RF channels) to permit tracking and guidance within a designated area such as an airport. Location and status reports containing information such as speed and direction of travel are automatically transmitted by each mobile at user-defined intervals. The reporting rate of all mobiles logged onto the TDMA network can be configured by the control centre adaptively to between 1 and 60s. The system makes efficient use of available bandwidth and is suitable for large fleets operating in highly congested operational radio areas. TRACS-TDMA's auto adaptive repeater enables all equipped mobiles to act as dynamic repeaters. This greatly extends the range of the system and enables it to work more efficiently in geographically difficult areas where blanking occurs.

Among the exhibitors was QinetiQ the UK's primary Security Solutions provider which is one of the world's largest R&D test and evaluation organizations. In transportation security environments, QinetiQ provides integrated leading edge security solutions and consultancy, covering all airport, port and terminal security arrangements. This includes passenger screening technologies and services, runway debris monitoring as well as perimeter security.

Roke Manoq Research of Romsey, Hampshire is one of Siemens' largest centers for R&D outside Germany and specializes in intelligent video image processing and sensor technology for security solutions. It is widely known for developing such systems for customers in both the commercial and defence sectors.

L3 Security and Detection Systems Inc., has a UK base at Bracknell and offers a range of X-ray security screening systems to the aviation and other industries. Many thousands of systems are in operation worldwide as screen packages for explosives, firearms, contraband and drugs in most commercial airports, ports and government buildings. Four product lines are offered: conventional X-ray; automated explosive detection systems; certified detection systems; and cargo X-ray detection systems.