New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says it’s addressing aviation security issues at Queenstown Airport flagged by its international body during a recent audit.
The audit, carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), found none of NZ’s international airports, including Queenstown, had adequate airside security.
In a statement, CAA says NZ’s last audit was in 2011 and ICAO’s standards ‘‘constantly evolve in response to the changing global security environment’’.
‘‘We will not be commenting on specific actions being taken, or on the details of the audit, or NZ aviation security system,’’ the statement says.
‘‘We continue to focus on the safety of passengers, crew, ground personnel and the general public in all matters relating to safeguarding against acts of unlawful interference with civil aviation; and we will continue to evolve our system procedures as required to ensure the safety and security of the travelling public remains paramount.’’
Queenstown Airport chief operating officer Todd Grace says security screening’s CAA’s responsibility, but it recently supported the Aviation Security Service (AVSEC) to ensure the required measures were in place.
‘‘Safety and security at Queenstown Airport are our highest priorities.
‘‘We do not make public details of security procedures on the airport precinct.’’
However, the NZ Air Line Pilots’ Association’s calling for an independent inquiry — president and international pilot Captain Andrew Ridling says the association’s had concerns about AVSEC operations and its resources for ‘‘some time’’, and has raised them with ministers, the Ministry of Transport, CAA and with the Transport Select Committee during recent Civil Aviation Bill hearings.
Ridling says compared to international standards, NZ’s international airports were ‘‘left vulnerable to security breaches and criminal activity — and were so for far too long’’.
The association wants AVSEC to be a stand-alone agency similar to the model used in the United States, be properly-resourced and subject
to independent scrutiny
‘‘At the very least, we owe this to both the travelling public and to our members.’’
