Mission Statement:
To promote, regulate and enforce compliance of Avsec's standards through:
- Implementation of sound and effective aviation security and safety policies,
- Building professional high performance teams with a winning culture,
- Forging partnerships with key state security organs,
- Implementation of aviation security best practices,
- Forge relations with the aviation security fraternity in the International region in pursuant of harmonised regulatory standards, and
- Have a sustainable business model.
The Role of Airports and Airlines
The Airports and Airlines division is mandated to promote, regulate and enforce best practice security measures and policies as highlighted in Annex 17 of ICAO. The key focus of Airports and Airlines division is the ensuring of aviation industry compliance with National Aviation Security Programme (NASP).
The roles of this division are:
- Determine/identify system inadequacies/weaknesses of airlines and airports to prevent acts of unlawful interference,
- Evaluate the robustness of the security of the airlines and airports,
- Assess potential threats to airlines, airports and airspace,
- Recommend security measures to counter actual or perceived threats, and
- To assist each airline and airport to develop their security programme that must be aligned to the needs of CAA, NASP, and ICAO,
- Conduct investigations in cases of security related incidents or accidents,
- Security liaison with other state organs,
- Assist the airlines and airports with security related enquiries and ensure quality control,
- Determine deficiencies in security and suggest new requirements, and
- Analyse current threats and recommend revisions to the NASP if necessary.
National Aviation Security Programme (NASP)
The NASP is designed to meet the international standards and recommended practices contained in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944 (Chicago Convention), as well as related aviation security provisions found in other annexes.
The Civil Aviation Act (Act No. 13 of 2009) and associated regulations, together with this programme, establish the basic legal authority for the implementation of civil aviation security policies, practices and procedures. The NASP ensures that the national requirements, policies and procedures which cover all relevant provisions of Annex 17 are consistently outlined as specified within the relevant Regulations.
Airport Security Management
Each airport authority is responsible for ensuring the implementation of preventive security measures in accordance with the NASP and applicable aviation security regulations.
In terms of section 3(1) and (2), of the Civil Aviation Regulations, the airport management at all designated airports serving civil aviation is required to establish, implement and maintain a written airport security programme (ASP) detailing the individual security measures and procedures in place to ensure compliance with the NASP requirements.
Aircraft Operators
In terms of section 4(2) of the security regulations, read with par. 6.4.2 of the NASP, aircraft operators providing international service from South Africa shall implement an AVSEC programme appropriate to meet the requirements of the National Aviation Security Programme. A written copy of the operator's AVSEC programme shall be submitted to the SACAA for approval.
The operator's AVSEC programme shall specify the practices and procedures to be followed by the operator to protect passengers, crew, ground personnel, aircraft and facilities from acts of unlawful interference.
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