NORWEGIAN REGIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY IMPROVING

UNCLAS OSLO 001319

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NB
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR TSA
BRUSSELS FOR TSA: KEVIN CAHILL, JESUS PRESAS AND PAUL ROGERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR KSEC PREL NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIAN REGIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY IMPROVING



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In early October, Embassy RSO and Poloff
traveled to three regional airports to meet Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) and aviation security (AVINOR) personnel and
to develop performance standards for future Embassy
assessments of Norwegian airport security. The Norwegian CAA
and AVINOR are busy tightening procedures for carry-on items
and baggage screening in accord with EC regulations. AVINOR
plans to extend critical security restrictions to all baggage
zones at commercial airports by 2009. Several airports are
planning further extensions of critical security zones.
AVINOR receives good support from the Norwegian government
for its security upgrade programs and is working to broaden
acceptance of new procedures among existing airport
employees. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) On October 5, Embassy officers met with the
Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) Director
General Mr. Heine Richardsen and Head of Security Ms. Bjorg
Ulset to discuss the CAA's role in security regulation
development and implementation. Ulset explained that the
CAA's security regulations are derived from ICAO Annex 17 and
EC Regulation 2320. As part of the EFTA group of countries,
Norway is obliged to conform with EC aviation safety
regulations. When changes are required, the CAA issues and
distributes implementing regulations to appropriate
authorities. Just prior to our meeting, the CAA finalized
new regulations for carry-on liquids and gels in accord with
recent EC aviation directives.

TIGHTENING PASSENGER AND FACILITY SECURITY


3. (SBU) Norway screens all passengers and carry-on baggage
prior to entering airport gate areas, coats and jackets must
be removed, and laptops and electronics must be taken out of
their cases. As of the first week of November, passengers
must put any liquids or gels in clear plastic bags no more
than one liter in size, amounts of liquid are limited to
100ml. Liquid containing bags will be subject to random
examination. Surprisingly, we learned that non-ticketed
persons are allowed into gate waiting areas at some airports
provided they pass through security checks. Norway follows
EC regulations that require reconciling the identity of those
checking baggage onto flights with the identity of those who
board flights. Regarding in-fight security measures, CAA
Security Director Ulset stated that Norway may be willing to
reopen discussions on a U.S. Federal Air Marshal program.


4. (SBU) Improvements to airport facility security are being
planned as well. On January 1, 2006, Norway established
Security Restricted Areas (SRAs) at air terminals, limiting
access to sensitive areas to personnel carrying electronic
keycards. Norway also established Critical Security
Restricted Areas (CSRAs) in sensitive areas around terminals
and gates. To enter and exit these areas, employees must
undergo physical searches. In 2009, these CSRAs will be
expanded to include all areas where baggage travels to comply
with EC Regulation 1138 (2004). Oslo Gardermoen airport
already has a CSRA system around its entire perimeter and we
were told that most commercial airports have plans to expand
CSRAs around their perimeters by 2009.

AVINOR AND THE AIRPORTS


5. (SBU) AVINOR is the state-owned company responsible for
airport operations and security as well as air traffic
control systems. We met with AVINOR officials to discuss
security procedures and how these procedures have altered
operations. AVINOR officials expressed some concerns over
difficulties they have in getting airport personnel to accept
these new security procedures. Long-time employees who have
never gone through physical searches do not welcome the new
procedures associated with SRAs and CSRAs. Recently the
Norwegian pilot's union complained publicly about being
"distracted" by frequent physical searches when moving in and
out of gate areas. Despite these work culture adjustments,
AVINOR officials told us that they are receiving good support
and adequate funding from the Norwegian government and that
their upgrade programs are continuing.


6. (SBU) In discussions at regional airports we learned more
about plans for implementing CSRAs. Oslo-Gardermoen has a
CSRA in place around its entire perimeter. AVINOR officials
in Trondheim/Vaernes (the third busiest airport in Norway
after Oslo-Gardermoen and Bergen) were proud to tell us that
they became the second airport to create a perimeter CSRA on
March 1, 2006. In Bodo, AVINOR officials are searching for

ways to configure their airport to meet CSRA requirements by

2009. The main obstacle in Bodo is that the runway is shared
with an adjacent Norwegian Air Force base that provides over
180 degrees of perimeter protection. This
military-commercial use situation is shared by several other
airports in Norway and AVINOR told us that accommodating
civilian and military needs will likely mean adjusting CSRA
requirements. Tromso has plans for major airport expansion.
Unfortunately, the airport has limited opportunity for growth
since it sits on the edge of a peninsula and abuts a business
and residential district. AVINOR officials in Tromso are
currently occupied with perimeter security changes (new
security fencing, new secure entrances, and extension of the
CSRA into baggage handling areas) and acknowledged
difficulties in creating a true CSRA around the entire
perimeter as one runway ends at the fjord's shoreline.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: The CAA and AVINOR are working to

improve security standards at Norwegian airports. Post now
has some measurable standards with which to gauge AVINOR's
progress. We also have a better understanding of the
relationship between the CAA, AVINOR, and the regional
airports. The establishing CSRAs in regional airports by
2009 is ambitious, and gives us a metric to use in follow-up
assessments. Post will continue to follow-up with the CAA
and AVINOR on their implementation of their airport security
upgrade programs. END COMMENT
JOHNSON