Arik Reiterates Commitment to Air Transport Security - THISDAY Live

[PaperMan]

Arik Reiterates Commitment to Air Transport Security - THISDAY Live

Arik Plane

By Chinedu Eze

Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air, announced at the weekend that it started the New Year by enforcing its commitment to airline security and had undertaken a series of enhanced measures in response to the growing security threat in the country.

The airline said that  in the past,  it has been recognised for its commitment to safety and security and continues to put a premium on all issues relating to the security of its passengers, noting that only recently it was awarded the “Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West Africa” by the Security Watch Africa’s Board of Trustees.

Arik said that it already has one of the largest security departments in the civil airline industry but it has not rested on its oars as it has continued to strengthen its security department with the recruitment of local and expatriate staff.

The new recruitments include aviation security experts with previous experience in Iraq and Afghanistan who would be deployed in Abuja and Lagos to assist local staff in ensuring that the airline’s personnel continue to operate at the very highest security level on an ongoing basis.

The airline said that currently, the domestic Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Standards and Training Manager are trained to the highest European standards and endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Arik Air   brought in new equipment to assist security officers in their jobs, with the company saying that    it currently uses its own X-ray equipment in addition to its own explosive and narcotic equipment.

“2012 will also see the company develop its own specialist search teams for in-depth aircraft and passenger searches. The security teams are led by experienced personnel who have worked in various airport environments ranging from Glasgow International Airport, Scotland to Baghdad


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