By Adul Ringim

International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently launched the Security Risk Intelligence Portal (SRIP)—an incident reporting tool to help airlines mitigate and manage security risks. The portal also includes the latest state and airport restrictions and requirements imposed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

A statement by the Aviation trade association said SRIP was developed to improve real-time information-sharing among airlines, airports and air navigation service providers (ANSPs). It noted that information shared by airlines will be augmented by open-source data (notices, warnings, bulletins, prohibitions, media reports) to provide a comprehensive view of security, biosafety and operational incidents in the vicinity of airports.  This will enable individual airlines to make well-informed, real-time and risk-based operational decisions to manage security threats.

“Safety and security are the industry’s main priorities. The Security Risk Intelligence Portal (SRIP) provides up-to-the-minute security incident data that will make aviation even more secure. This includes biosafety and conflict zone information which will be particularly timely as airlines re-start operations amid the COVID-19 crisis,” said Matthew Vaughan, IATA’s Director of Security.

Other areas of interest include, Cooperation with Governments: To further improve security risk mitigation, IATA is working with States and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to improve levels of security information-sharing. This is particularly critical in conflict zones as demonstrated with the tragic downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 earlier this year.

“To be sustainable, flying must be secure. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen unprecedented levels of cooperation among all industry stakeholders, including governments. The Security Risk Intelligence Portal (SRIP) is an important opportunity to continue that cooperation with the common aim of building an even more secure industry. As aviation restarts, we must retain this spirit and extend it to all areas of safety and security,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Airport, Passenger, Cargo & Security.