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    Aviation

    ​​An efficient, safe, and secure aviation system is integral to Australia's social and economic well-being. Australia's aviation industry aids both travel and trade, connecting our cities and towns to the rest of the world.

    Australia takes a comprehensive approach to help safeguard Australia's aviation transport system from terrorism and acts of unlawful interference. This approach is based on the principle of 'security in depth', meaning the more layers of security, the less chance an attack will occur or be successful.

    As aviation is so critical to our way of life, we need to ensure that those who travel by air are secure when they fly.

    We set and manage aviation security policy, including:

    • which airports need to conduct passenger and air cargo security screening
    • how people, bags and cargo are screened to ensure no prohibited items or weapons get on board an aircraft
    • detection technologies used in airports, and much more.

    Day to day security

    While government sets aviation security policy, it is airports and others that deliver security on a day-to-day basis.

    Airports, airlines, and air cargo industry participants need to implement security procedures to meet legislative obligations and manage aviation security.

    You can find out more by looking at our security information including:

    Aviation security framework – an overview

    Learn more about why and how we manage the aviation security framework from Matthew Pedler, Assistant Secretary in the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre.

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    Hello. My name is Matthew Pedler, and I’m Assistant Secretary of the Policy and Standards Branch in the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre.

     

    The primary focus of the Policy and Standards Branch is the security of critical aviation transport infrastructure. Aviation is vital to our wellbeing and prosperity as a nation. It connects regional Australia to capital cities, and Australia to the rest of the world. Because aviation is so critical to our way of life, we need to ensure that those who travel by air are secure when they fly. And that’s the essence of our role - to develop the policies that secure our critical aviation infrastructure, and support legitimate travel and trade.

     

    In a little more detail, this all means that we manage the aviation security framework: which airports need to conduct security screening of passengers and air cargo; how people, bags and cargo are screened to ensure that no prohibited items or weapons get on board an aircraft; the types of detection technologies used in airports; and much more. If you have flown recently you will have seen some new screening technology at airports. Using the latest security screening technology is one of the most effective ways we can protect against a diverse range of evolving threats.

     

    Few industries are more globally connected than aviation. That’s why Australia is an active member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (known as ICAO); and the CISC is responsible for ensuring Australia meets out international aviation security obligations. We work closely with our partners around the world, and in ICAO, to raise the bar for aviation security globally. 

     

    But this is not something Government can do alone. While government sets aviation security policy, it is airports and others that deliver security on a day to day basis. We work in partnership with the aviation sector to ensure that settings are appropriate and strike the right balance between security and facilitation. 

     

    Aviation security has traditionally focused on terrorism: from the hijackings in the 1970s, the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, the terrible events of 9/11, and the disrupted terrorist attack targeting aviation here in 2017. But threats evolve, and today we must protect aviation from all hazards, including unlawful interference, serious crime, and cyber-attacks. 

     

    It’s been a very challenging couple of years for the aviation sector, with the COVID-19 pandemic having a crippling impact, including the loss of many people with security expertise and experience from the industry. As travel resumes in earnest, we are working closely with the sector to maintain security standards while ensuring the system is well-placed to deal with new threats as they emerge, and so that we have a secure and resilient aviation system.

     

    For more information on aviation security, or to ask a question, please visit the CISC website.

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    Other aviation resources