Bahrain leading regional cooperation in aviation security

By // Danielle Doporto Manama, Nov. 6 (BNA): The second annual meeting of the Executive Steering Committee for the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme - Middle East (CASP-MID) took place in Bahrain. The international event was organised by the Ministry of Transportation’s aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), under the umbrella of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). CASP-MID Chairman and Acting Undersecretary for CAA, Ahmed Nemah, expressed his thanks to ICAO for selecting Bahrain as the programme’s base of operations. “We make sure that the stakeholders at airports maintain the international standards laid down by ICAO,” he told Bahrain News Agency (BNA). The role of this programme is to make sure that there is uniformity in all of the countries in the world, so there is no difference between security measures that are applicable here in Bahrain from what is applicable elsewhere,” he said. Currently, the programme comprises of around six states, he added. “It is in the early stages of course, and about three or four more countries are working with their governments to enrol themselves in this programme, which we're expecting to happen in the first quarter of 2015.” CASP-MID was formed from meetings held in Bahrain during 2012, with offices opening in the Kingdom in January 2013. It aligns with CASP programmes in other regions - established with the collaboration of participating states - under ICAO, which is a United Nations Specialised Agency created in 1944. “Our role is to conduct seminars and courses, and bring experts to further the knowledge and enhance the culture of aviation security... During 2014 we have delivered many internationally-recognised courses and seminars to the major stakeholders here at the airport, to civil aviation employees in Bahrain, and to the member states of CASP,” said Nemah. The agenda for the regular meeting on Wednesday included a review of CASP-MID and the recommendations of the Expert Working Group, talks of goals and funding, and the adoption of the 2014-2015 Annual Work Plan emphasising further international training initiatives. The focus and priorities of CASP-MID are determined by its member nations, with guidance from ICAO. Its objective is to enhance the regulation and enforcement of aviation security provisions, through the development of a standing aviation security structure for long-term cooperation and coordination. Outcomes are intended to harmonise security in the region as a whole, allowing members to tackle regional issues locally by implementing global best practices to diminish security threats through innovative solutions. Despite ongoing security threats facing the wider region, the tone of the meeting was positive and cooperative. Speakers encouraged that more states join CASP-MID, in order to shore up security in the region as a whole, invoking the maxim that as you’re only as strong as your weakest link. “Aviation security itself is completely different than public security. We in aviation - in any system, being passengers or airports, safety or security - work in a systematic way. That system we apply in Bahrain is of a similar standard, and is applicable to the UK, America, India or China etc. so that's why these programmes are important,” said Nemah. Bahrain’s rich history in aviation was a key determinant in selecting it as the regional headquarters for the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme. Nemah said: “Bahrain has got a very strong foundation when it comes to civil aviation. We witnessed the first aircraft landing here in 1918 and the first scheduled aeroplane here was landed by British Imperial Airways in October 1932, on its way from London to Australia… Gulf Air was the first carrier in the Gulf.” When asked about Bahrain’s current standing in aviation in the region, he said, “we have very professional Bahrainis in aviation, being engineers, being pilots, being in aviation administration etc, so these are all the foundations for Bahrain being sound and strong in aviation.” Under CASP-MID, and in line with the Leadership’s directives, Bahrain has been further developing a cadre of qualified nationals in the field of aviation security.