Unlawful interference

An airport consists of numerous elements which are linked with various internal relations with a strong impact of the human factor. It is therefore a complicated socio-technical system. The correct operation of an airport requires providing the appropriate level of security by the Airport Managing Entity (AME). One of the aspects involved in providing security is protection against the acts of unlawful interference (ICAO 2010). The research related to providing the continuity of operation of an airport conducted so far focused mainly on the problem of operational availabiUty i.e. the reliability of various technical components of the airport system considered together with their structural reliability as well as the external... 

An Airport Security System (ApSS) is used to prevent acts of unlawful interference. This notion is defined in (ICAO 2010) as an unlawful and purposeful act involving e.g. ... 

ICAO 2010. Civil Aviation Security Manual—Protection Against Unlawful Interference, International Civil Aviation Organization, Doc. 8973. 

In considering ICAO s security policy, the Assembly adopted a consolidated statement on the continuing ICAO policies related to the safeguarding of international civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference which strongly condemns... 

Cyber Terrorisni, attacks on the integrity of travel documents, the use of full body scanners and issues flowing therefrom, civil unrest as they threaten the security of airports and unlawful interference with civil aviation are issues that draw the attention of the aviation community in general and the air transport industry in particular. 

Offences against civil aviation, particularly with regard to unlawful interference with civil aviation related to aircraft have been addressed on three major occasions, though the Tokyo Convention of 1963, The Hague Convention of 1970 and the Montreal Convention of 1971. Yet none of these conventions referred, whether directly or indirectly, to cyber terrorism. 

Professor Huber s definition, which is a simple statement of a State s rights, has been qualified by Starke as the residuum of power which a State possesses within the confines of international law. Responsibility would devolve upon a State in whose territory an act of unlawful interference against civil aviation might occur, to other States that are threatened by such acts. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recognised in the Corfu Channel Case ... 

The Convention, in its Article 2 recognizes that any person who by any means directly or indirectly, unlawfully or wilfully, provides or collects funds with the intention that they should be used or in the knowledge that they are to be used, in full or in part, in order to carry out any act which constitutes an offence under certain named treaties, commits an offence. The treaties listed are those that are already adopted and in force and which address acts of unlawful interference with such activities as deal with air transport and maritime transport. Also cited is the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 15 December 1997. 

The Preamble was also quoted in Resolution A17-1 (Declaration by the Assembly) which requested concerted action oti the part of States towards suppressing all acts which jeopardize safety and orderly development of international civil aviation. In Resolution A20-2 (Acts of Unlawful Interference with Civil Aviation) the Assembly reiterated its confidence that the development of international civil aviation can be an effective tool in bringing about friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world. 

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