Skip to main content

4.3 Aviation Security




         Cybersecurity in aviation operations has been on more than a few's minds ever since airplanes have come to heavily rely on computers. People like Helga Munger have written about the emerging threat of system hacking and the fears of a second 9/11-type attack... except this time, they won't need to be on board the aircraft.

           More realistically, cyberattacks within the airport stations that steal credit card numbers or crash systems used to give the pilots sensitive information are a scary thought for many. Airports always have very extensive layers o firewall protection and IT teams to battle this very possible thing, but you are " only as strong as your weakest link," (Munger, 2018, pg. 1).
       
          A possible IT failure could be detrimental to an airport. Airports hold so much Sensitive Information that criminals would love to get their hands on, so what could be done to mitigate this risk? Of course, IT teams are your first bet. Airports need a team of people who know exactly what they are doing, because a hacker, or group of hackers, are going to know exactly what they are doing, too. Secondly, TSA agents should also remain present in order to search laptops or other electronic devices and device cases for physical hacking tools such as a magspoof, which can mimic exactly any magnetic strip on any credit card to be used to steal information from computers. Thirdly, airport employees should continue to train new staff to recognize Cyber threats when they see them, such as differences in computer screen layouts, or being blocked from accessing important, security-sensitive information. 

             I recommend that airlines simply make sue they are insured for cyber threats, and take very seriously who they hire for IT persons. Trusting TSA as your second layer of security, ( after virus protections and IT people who are trained to prevent hacking), is also recommended.

References:    Munger, H. (n.d.). Cyber threats in aviation: Munich Re. Retrieved from https://www.munichre.com/topics-online/en/digitalisation/cyber/cyber-threats-in-aviation.html

                        Inside Look: TSA Layers of Security. (2019, July 15). Retrieved from https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2017/08/01/inside-look-tsa-layers-security

           

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9.2 Weather Hazards

Weather Hazards      I believe tornadoes are the most dangerous weather condition to handle aircraft operations in. During a tornado, the primary focus around airports is where to put the aircraft so that they are not lifted from the ground and completely destroyed. All planes are quickly put in hangars or evacuated from the airport if possible. The updrafts caused by tornadoes are certain death for any unlucky pilot who happens to be in the air within a certain radius of the storm. Tornadoes are complete disasters for every airport they plow through, like a hurricane, only tornadoes can affect airports from all over the US.      In order for a tornado to form, certain conditions must be present. They most commonly form during violent thunderstorms, because thunderstorms provide sufficient instability, and there is wind shear in the lower atmosphere. Earth's weather occurs in the troposphere, and tornadoes cause the wind in the troposphere to violen...
Post a Comment
Read more

8.2 Air Traffic Control Entities

Tower Vs  Ground Control      During aircraft operations, the first 3 people a pilot talks to during a flight is the weather briefer, ground control, and tower. Ground control is a part of air traffic control, but they control the aircraft requesting taxi on the ground. Soon after landing and turning off the runway, the pilot holds short of the taxiway before switching radio frequencies to Ground Control. Everything after leaving the taxiway onto a runway and before turning off the runway is communicated with Tower.      Separating the two entities frees up radio space on the airport and provides more efficient separation by giving the controller only one area (ground or air) to focus on. Pilots must be in contact with ground control as soon as they cross the ATC line. This rule ensures that ATC is aware of every aircraft moving on the airport in high traffic areas. However, pilots do not have to be in contact with ATC while taxiing in hang...
Post a Comment
Read more

7.2 The Airport and the Environment

                                                   The Airport and the Environment       One of the biggest and most common environmental concerns for airport managers is lighting and thunderstorms.  “ IATA  requires for safety reasons some or all handling operations to be suspended when lightning occurs at or near an aerodrome .” (  ICAO , AMOFSG/7SN No. 17) During a thunderstorm, ramps are shut down and often planes can be left on the tarmac for however long it takes for the storm to pass. This is called a tarmac delay. Tarmac delays hurt airlines by causing jets to sit and burn fuel for periods of time while planes may be boarded with passengers. If the plane is delayed long enough to cause frustration to passengers, airlines are often obligated to provide financial compensation to the passengers for the inconvenience. ...
Post a Comment
Read more