INTRODUCTION
Professional corporate bodyguards are occasionally responsible for setting up and supervising the guarding of corporate aircraft. This article provides you with fundamental information on the requirements.
GUARDING THE CORPORATE AIRCRAFT
The corporate aircraft guarding program should be setup when aircraft are transiting airports where security is unknown or deemed inadequate to counter local threats. Corporate aircraft are a lucrative terrorist targets worldwide and procedures must be in place.
AIRPORT ASSESSMENT
An airport threat assessment starts with the question what are the known risks within the in the country, the city and at the airport. The DL or the SL will start an internet based airport threat assessment looking at any recent and significant criminal or terrorist activities that may indicate future intentions.
This should include finding out if there are any dissidents known to operating in the area of the airport, identifying the groups by name as well as conducting a map and photo reconnaissance of the airport and imagery/maps of the airfield utilizing Google Earth™ or other internet mapping method.
ADVANCE MAN ACTIVITY
The advance man will assess the potential threat at each airport. Once the security at the airport in question has been deemed unknown or inadequate to counter local threats the advance man on your team will go to the airport to setup and supervise security personnel. These security personnel will be in place upon the arrival of the corporate aircraft to deter, detect and counter threats by performing close-in corporate aircraft security.
These corporate aircraft security personnel may be hired from military units, police, security forces, or local contract agents. When hiring close-in aircraft security personnel check with the designated ground handler who is handling the corporate aircraft he should have a list of respectable and vetted personnel.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
At each airport the corporate aircraft will be traveling to the advance man needs to assess the threats, check availability of security, detection capabilities, entry controls, and alarm response capability. The advance man also needs to make arrangements for close-in security for the corporate aircraft.
Once the appropriate security force is organized the advance man needs to assesses the security provide to ensure that it is adequate to protect the aircraft, passengers and crew from potential local threats. The properly vetted close-in aircraft security personnel have to be instructed to remain in the immediate vicinity of the corporate aircraft; enact security measures to prevent specific threats posed to the aircraft, passengers and crew. This may include:
1. Portable lighting and spotlights
2. Ropes and stanchions
3. Patrol coverage
4. Backup emergency responses
5. Preventing anyone from attempting to approach the corporate aircraft without permission.
6. Preventing anyone from entering the corporate aircraft without permission.
7. Securing all doors/hatches, and seal the main corporate aircraft entrance door.
8. Additional back-up armed response to incidents affecting corporate aircraft security within 5 minutes of notification of the need for such response.
CORPORATE AIRCRAFT SECURITY CHECKLIST
The following is a checklist to be utilized by the advance man prior to departure and at every leg of the corporate visit where the corporate aircraft is on the ground and the security is unknown or deemed inadequate to counter local threats.
PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE ADVANCE MAN SHOULD
____ Receive a copy of the flight itinerary from corporate aircraft operations center.
____ Establish security requirements for each stop.
____ Prepare a pre-departure briefing for corporate aircraft crew on the security arrangements to be made at each airport.
WHILE AT EACH AIRPORT WHILE ON THE ADVANCE
____ Conduct a security assessment to determine if local airport security is adequate.
____All en route corporate aircraft security has been (or will be) pre-planned.
____ The corporate aircraft will not be left unattended when security at the airport has been assessed as not adequate.
____ If security is found inadequate setup and coordinate additional physical security improvements for:
____ The arrival of the corporate aircraft (runways assessment and close-in corporate aircraft sentry to meet Captain at ramp).
____ The aircraft parking overnight (VIP aircraft parking with 24-hour close-in corporate aircraft sentries).
____ Review your emergency action plan. Ensure all close-in corporate aircraft sentries know the plan well.
____ Prepare close-in aircraft sentry duty logs and reports so they can be distributed, and acted upon.
____ Provide Coordinating Instructions to 24-hour close-in corporate aircraft sentries;
____ Establish a 24-hour close-in corporate aircraft sentries posting schedule and ensure supervisory personnel are included in the program.
____ All personnel must show identification prior to approaching the corporate aircraft.
____ Close-in aircraft sentries will deny access, unauthorized activity, or opportunity to persons attempting to circumvent physical security measures of corporate aircraft.
____ Prepare a security checklist to implement upon arrival at all stops the corporate aircraft will make.
____Contact numbers and how to contact local contracted security at the airport of intended destination.
____Contact number of the person who will meet the aircraft at the airport of intended destination.
____ Contact number of the company that will be providing corporate aircraft servicing at the airport of intended destination.
____ While corporate aircraft is on the ground at a particular airport conduct daily telephone liaison with local close-in corporate aircraft sentries and security elements at the airfield.
NOTE: ICEP provide advance work, executive protection, secure corporate transportation and corporate aircraft security for business travelers in: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (South), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Yemen. Please send us an email if we may be of assistance to you. Thank you. Keep Safe & God Speed.