Policies and Guidelines for the Operation of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) Machine

July 26, 2017

DOTr-OTS MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 003-17

 

Pursuant to ICAO Annex 17, Standard 4.4.1, and in compliance to the provisions of EO 277 as amended by EO 311 and the National Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP), hereby promulgated are the policies and guidelines for the operation of ETD machine.

I. RATIONALE

There is a need to prescribe standards for ETD system operation, and to clarify and define the roles and responsibilities of appropriate authorities and stakeholders at the airport to ensure its effective implementation.

II. SCOPE

This circular covers all security personnel implementing security screening at final and airline redundancy screening checkpoints.

III. DEFINITIONS

Appropriate authority for security — refers to the Office for Transportation Security is the State designated appropriate authority to implement the NCASP and ICAO Annex 17 pursuant to Executive Orders (EO) 277 and 311.

Aircraft operator — the commercial operator of any one or more aircraft holding an Air Operator Certificate or a Foreign Air Operator Certificate.

Aircraft operator security program — the written security program developed by an aircraft operator which is approved by the OTS.

Airport operator — an organization or entity, responsible for the management and coordination of airport operations, including airport security; also referred to as airport management. cDHAES

Airport security program — a written program detailing security measures and procedures in place at each airport serving civil aviation, in accordance with the requirements of the NCASP.

Cabin baggage — baggage intended for carriage in the cabin of an aircraft.

Checked baggage — baggage and personal belongings accepted for transportation by an aircraft operator which is loaded into the hold of the aircraft, and to which a person will not have access while on board an aircraft.

Explosives — explosives products, commonly known as "plastic explosives," including explosives in flexible or elastic sheet form.

Explosives detection system (EDS) — a technology system or combination of different technologies which has the ability to detect, and so to indicate by means of an alarm, explosive material contained in baggage or other articles, irrespective of the material from which the bag is made.

Explosive substance — a solid or liquid substance (or a mixture of substances) which is in itself capable, by chemical reaction, of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings. Included are pyrotechnic substances even when they do not evolve gases. A substance which is not itself an explosive but which can form an explosive atmosphere of gas, vapor or dust is not included.

Explosive trace detection (ETD) equipment — a technology system or combination of different technologies which has the ability to detect very small amounts of explosive materials, and so to indicate, by means of an alarm, any such materials contained in baggage or other articles subjected for analysis.

Policing authority — the Philippines National Police, Aviation Security Unit (PNP AVSEU), mandated to secure all airports nationwide against offensive and terroristic acts that threaten civil aviation.

Screening — the application of technical or other means which are intended to identify and/or detect weapons, explosives or other dangerous devices, articles or substances which may be used to commit an act of unlawful interference.

Security equipment — devices of a specialized nature for use, individually or as part of a system, in the prevention or detection of acts of unlawful interference with civil aviation and its facilities.

Screening point — an area provided by the airport operator for the carrying out of passenger and baggage screening operations.

Screening staff — includes an aviation security screening officer and other OTS-certified screeners. ASEcHI

IV. GENERAL POLICIES

A. All passengers and cabin baggage including transfer passengers and baggage, unless a one-stop security agreement is in effect, shall undergo appropriate security screening before being allowed access to an aircraft, sterile area or security restricted area.

B. All departing passengers and cabin baggage at all international and domestic airports shall be screened using metal detection and x-ray equipment, and advanced screening technologies such as ETD machine, where available.

C. Manual searches of all departing passengers and cabin baggage shall be conducted when security equipment is either not available or not functional. Manual searches shall also be conducted if unidentified object(s) on a passenger's person set off security equipment alarms, and in order to identify any items of a suspect nature detected during x-ray examination of cabin baggage.

D. All articles that give reasonable cause for concern shall be further inspected by screening staff, or reported to the supervisor of the screening checkpoint. In cases where firearms, explosives, weapons or other dangerous devices are detected, the PNP AVSEU shall be notified immediately and the concerned passenger shall be required to submit to police inquiries.

E. Any person who refuses to undergo screening shall be denied boarding.

V. RESPONSIBILITIES

A. OTS shall:

1. Assess current security screening equipment technology for detection of threat items and prescribe minimum standards for such security screening equipment;

2. Set a percentage of random manual or ETD screening of passengers and cabin baggage based on local circumstances and the prevailing threat and risk factors; and raise such percentage in response to an increased threat to civil aviation; and,

3. Approve the standard operating procedure for ETD screening operation by aircraft and airport operators.

B. Airport Operator shall:

1. Provide passenger and baggage screening checkpoint areas designed to facilitate the control of passengers and eliminate the risk of a passenger bypassing the screening procedure; ITAaHc

2. Design or modify its facilities to ensure that undesirable contact between screened and unscreened persons is not possible. Measures to ensure the separation of screened and unscreened passengers shall be included in its airport security program and implemented; and,

3. Allocate office space inside the terminal for PNP AVSEU rapid response team.

C. Aircraft Operator shall:

1. Develop security equipment-specific standard operating procedures (SOP), including internal alarm resolution protocols and manner of turn-over of suspected item to PNP AVSEU for final investigation and resolution, which shall form part of its aircraft operator security program;

2. Develop and implement a training program for operation of security screening equipment;

3. Make available, for reference, such SOPs to airline security screeners, describing in detail how security control and screening procedures shall be implemented and conducted at the redundancy screening checkpoint; and,

4. Provide details of the type, number and location of security equipment used in its redundancy screening.

D. PNP AVSEU shall:

1. Conduct surveillance of departing passengers for persons who may pose a threat to civil aviation;

2. Provide specialist response including but not limited to, anti-terrorist units, armed intervention, hostage negotiation and explosive device disposal;

3. Provide rapid armed response capability to major incidents at all international and domestic airports;

4. Provide trainings to appropriate police personnel in aviation security practices and procedures pertinent to their operation; and,

5. Establish and promote an effective threat or incident response capability for ETD or EDS related incident.

VI. GUIDELINES FOR ETD SCREENING

A. Any person who activates the security equipment's alarm, or cannot be cleared by the normal screening process, shall be referred for manual searches or be subjected to ETD screening, where available. Any person, who cannot be satisfactorily cleared after completing the entire screening process, including a manual search, shall be denied entry into security restricted areas and endorsed to PNP AVSEU for further investigation. CHTAIc

B. When screening electronics devices, screening staff shall examine for signs of tampering (such as, fresh scratch marks on screws or plastic housing — front and back, inordinate weight or balance, unusual smells, other signs of modification, or parts that do not match the majority of the parts used).

C. Electronic devices contained a protective casing must be removed from the casing during the ETD screening procedure.

D. If the ETD machine triggers the alarm, the ETD operator shall replace the swab/gloves and test the baggage or its contents again to validate the alarm.

E. If the result of the second test is the same (alarm for traces of explosive), the ETD operator shall immediately inform the Team Leader/Supervisor and subject the owner passenger/airport user for further verification/questioning.

F. If warranted, the baggage will be subjected to x-ray re-screening to determine whether other components of an IED are present; and

G. If the baggage or items that triggered an alarm is not resolved by the ETD operator or the Team Leader/Supervisor using standard operating procedure, shall be turned-over to the PNP AVSEU for appropriate investigation and resolution.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

A. Construction — The provisions herein shall be liberally construed in order to promote civil aviation security objectives.

B. Reservation — Nothing herein shall be construed as precluding OTS, through its Administrator, from enforcing the provisions enunciated herein and in prescribing other requirements to meet the constantly evolving challenges in civil aviation security.

C. Amendments — Nothing in this circular shall restrict the authority of OTS, through its Administrator, to modify, amend or repeal any provision of the circular through subsequent issuances.

D. Repeal — All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts hereof, which are inconsistent with this circular are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

E. Separability — If any provision or section of these rules is declared null and void by competent authority, the remaining provisions shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.

F. Effectivity — This memorandum circular shall take effect immediately. A copy of this circular shall be deposited with the University of the Philippines Law Center in compliance with Revised Administrative Code. EATCcI

(SGD.) USEC. ARTURO M. EVANGELISTAAdministrator