‘The network has been established to try and get more consistency across the UK and to tackle the frustrations that pilots currently experience in negotiating their way through security.

BALPA held its first training seminar for locally based Security Liaison Representatives on 21st/22nd October 2008. This is a first for BALPA and is currently the only network of local pilot representatives specialising in security in the world. Over 16 representatives from airports as far apart as Gatwick and Aberdeen, Belfast and Exeter attended.

The network has been established to try and get more consistency across the UK and to tackle the frustrations that pilots currently experience in negotiating their way through security ; a frustration that confidential reporting systems indicates is now putting flight safety at risk. BALPA will again be surveying pilots later this year to gauge the levels of concern amongst pilots at the UK’s security regime.

Representatives were given a rare insight into the current UK aviation security scene as well as a more in depth introduction into the ‘Threat’ and the mitigating procedures in place from TRANSEC - the Department of Transport‘s Secretariat responsible. Officers from the Counter Terrorist Branch were able to give delegates an update on their activities and representatives from the airlines and security services contributed to a rounded programme aimed at giving these new reps the essential knowledge that they will require to represent BALPA members at the many Airport Security Committees throughout the UK.

To find out more about this key new role or to contact your local Security Liaison Representatives contact David Reynolds, BALPA Flight Safety & Security Officer on 0208 476 4066 or email davidreynolds@balpa.org