BergerWorld: 2nd Quarter 2004

Airports around the world are constantly considering security threats and improving passenger safety. Drawing on Berger's extensive experience in aviation, the Berger team has assisted a number of airports to identify vulnerabilities and develop effective solutions to these challenges.

Hartsfield International Airport is currently the United States' busiest airport, serving approximately six million passengers per month. As a result, monitoring potential security concerns is a daunting challenge. The Berger Group conducted an initial fast-track security and vulnerability assessment. The Team interviewed security and law enforcement personnel, airline representatives and airport managers to determine potential risks. Berger then conducted a thorough examination of the design of the airport and identified possible areas of concern.

The assessment included analyses of group and individual attacks and natural disasters. Berger recommended a number of simple and cost-effective solutions which were easily implemented. To maintain the highest level of protection, the Team also recommended the airport conduct quarterly assessments of physical, technical and computer security risks.

Berger also assisted Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo (Aerodom), the private concession holder for six airports in the Dominican Republic, to review security measures for these airports. The Team had previously completed a due diligence study of the airports, and Aerodom asked Berger to update the reports and identify possible effects that new regulations would have on security, airport traffic and financial projections.

The Team reviewed the security measures already in place in the Dominican Republic and compared them to the security guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in February 2002. Security at Aerodom's airports was upgraded after September 11th, including improved training and supervision for security guards, baggage check personnel and airport managers; new security fencing; installation of closed circuit cameras and enhanced baggage check procedures. As a result of these changes, the Team found that the six airports already met and exceeded the standards of the ICAO. Because the airports had already invested in state-of-the-art security protections, the Team found that implementing additional precautions and conducting baggage checks for all departing flights would not significantly increase operating costs for Aerodom.

Many recent security upgrades have focused on protecting airports from passengers entering through the airport terminal, however another significant area of concern is guarding the wide expanse of airside areas, including runways, fueling stations and maintenance sites. To monitor entry at JFK's many air-side entrances, the PANYNJ selected the Berger Group to install crash barriers and provide secured access at guarded posts.

The Team conducted surveys at each of the entrances, evaluated threat scenarios, developed alternative protective designs and prepared detailed drawings, including the mechanical, electrical and drainage requirements for the selected upgrades. Berger developed additional layouts to connect the barriers to existing electrical systems, incorporated hydraulic power units and pumps, and configured the entrance to ensure a smooth flow of traffic during construction. Once the plans were completed, Berger worked with manufacturers of crash barrier equipment to develop site specific designs for the gateway and assisted PANYNJ officials in supervising the installations.

The Port Authority manages the many links between New York City and New Jersey. This responsibility includes the supervision of bridges and tunnels into the city, the ports and waterways of the Hudson River, four airports, several mass transit systems and the World Trade Center (WTC) site. To ensure these systems are well protected, the PANYNJ selected the Berger Group and Ammann & Whitney to provide on-call security engineering services under the Capital Security Program. Through this program, Berger will assist officials in the design, development and supervision of security improvements to PANYNJ infrastructure, including aviation, tunnels, bridges, terminals, rail and marine facilities. The Team has already developed a number of innovative solutions to protect against explosives, incendiary devices, collisions and chemical, biological and radiological attacks. Berger is also responsible for evaluating upgrades to operations and security command centers and incorporating state-of-the-art hazardous material sensors into security detection and monitoring systems to safeguard against surface intruders and airborne threats.