Aviation Security & Facilitation

The Aviation Security Division oversees and monitors the implementation of aviation security standards in Barbados.

The safety, and efficiency of Civil Aviation and its facilities are critical to safeguarding passengers, flight crew, ground staff, the general public, and Civil Aviation facilities against acts of unlawful interference on the ground and in flight.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, seeks to promote appropriate levels of aviation security throughout the global community. Through Annex 17 (security) of the Convention on International Civil Aviation Chicago Convention, 1944, (coordinating and regulating air travel ), ICAO  Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

Being a signatory state to the Chicago  Convention, Barbados is obliged to implement the Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by ICAO and signed Tokyo Conventions 1963 (convention on offenses and acts committed on board an aircraft), Hauge Convention 1970 ( convention for the suppression of the unlawful seizure of aircraft), Montreal Convention 1971 (convention for the unlawful Acts against the safety of civil aviation).

Regulations

The Regulatory Framework allows the Authority to ensure that all Aviation Security activities conform to the prescribed Standards of ICAO and the National Civil Aviation Regulations.

The functions and responsibilities of this office include:

• Develop and ensure the implementation of the Quality Control Program.
• Exercise oversight and surveillance activities including audits, inspections, and tests of airports and their facilities, air carriers, and other service providers.
• Review security manuals of air carriers, aerodrome operators, contracted security providers, and other aviation stakeholders for approval.
• Review security training manuals of air carriers, aerodrome operators, contracted security providers, and other aviation stakeholders for approval.
• Monitor the airport operators’ security tabletop and full-scale exercises.
• Administer the Certification for contracted security providers, aviation security screeners, and national aviation security instructors.
• Ensure and monitor compliance with all appropriate security standards by the airport, air carriers, and related aviation service providers in Barbados:
• Provide necessary guidelines, coordinate, and communicate with various stakeholders and organisations on Avsec matters.
• in accordance with the International Convention on Civil Aviation, ICAO Annex 9 & 17;
• equivalent to those of the national Regulations, standards, and detailed measures for the implementation of aviation security and facilitation.; and
• necessary to comply with the National  Civil Aviation Security Program.

Aviation Security (AVSEC) Unit Accomplishments

• The Aviation Security Unit has accomplished a significant number of achievements to include the following:
• Certification of contracted security providers, aviation security screeners, and AVSEC instructors;
• Facilitating security workshops in collaboration with international aviation agencies on security awareness and access control;
• Assessing the airport operators’ security tabletop and full-scale exercises and emergency plans at the Grantley Adams International Airport in 2023;
• Approving security manuals for aircraft operators, aerodrome operators, contracted security providers, ground handling companies, and other agencies.
• Approving security training manual for air operators, aerodrome operators, contracted security providers, catering companies, ground handling agents, and other aviation stakeholders;