UK. Inflight sales security consultant STI – Airline Sales & Services Limited is to introduce a new device to combat ground theft from aircraft while on the ground at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
The new mobile Airside Surveillance Unit will survey aircraft taken to remote stands while on turnaround and is described as the third element in the UK-based company’s fight against increasing levels of theft from aircraft on the ground.
The mobile unit is designed to complement the company’s existing airside security operation and landside transport of duty free goods and equipment back to the bond.
STI’s recent covert surveillance work, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police and HM Customs, identified that aircraft towed to remote stands were the most vulnerable to theft attacks from organised syndicates and opportunists alike.
As a result, STI has received permission from LHR AOC to operate a fully liveried mobile surveillance unit to patrol, observe and monitor movements around any aircraft in an effort to create a rapid response to any suspicious or irregular activities.
“This airside surveillance unit offers a daily high-profile, visible deterrent to operate in pre-identified areas on the ramp and on aircraft on longer than normal turnarounds. Its flexible approach can accommodate a whole airline’s operation or certain flights on any given days,” STI Director Paul Lacy told The Moodie Report.
Successful security operation
Having spent many years operating from inside Heathrow’s terminal buildings, STI has developed a successful operation to protect the security integrity of airlines’ duty free product and equipment by working closely with airport, airline and catering security personnel.
With the advent of Terminal 5 and the increased number of access points on and off the airfield, it became clear that aircraft that were removed to remote stands, away from the terminals while on turnaround, were the most vulnerable to theft from organised crime syndicates and opportunists alike.
The STI vehicles will be fully logoed and patrol key pre-identified areas and aircraft on a daily basis, covering an airline’s whole operation if required.
STI’s existing operation allows uniformed agents to board an aircraft once the last able-bodied passenger has disembarked to check, record and re-seal, where necessary, all the duty free carts and boxes in preparation for them to be removed from the aircraft by the airline’s caterers.
This success led to the introduction of a secure transport service to work landside in conjunction with its operation airside. The company collects the duty free equipment from the caterers and re-checks the seals and locks before transporting them back to the bond for reconciliation. Any discrepancies are immediately reported and investigated.
For details, contact Paul K. Lacy, Director, STI – Airline Sales & Services Limited, on e-mail info@dutyfreesecurity.com Visit www.dutyfreesecurity.com
NOTE: This story first broke on the airline section of The Moodie Report.com – the industry’s most extensive, regular and respected coverage of the inflight retail sector. From next week the section will have added focus and be known as The Moodie Report Airline News, both on the website and in our weekly e-Newsletter. It will cover inflight retail news, general airline developments and much more besides. Please send all your airline-related news to Martin@TheMoodieReport.com
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