Smart Key Control Can Give Your Airport a Lift

The aviation industry has made significant technological advancements in enhancing airport security, incorporating measures like security identification display area (SIDA) badges, biometric identification, and advanced imaging technology. But amid these advancements, traditional keys still hold an essential role in airport operations.

Lost or stolen keys can result in significant repercussions. The cost of replacing locks, keys, and conducting unplanned key audits can be substantial. That’s not to mention the disruptions to daily operations, productivity losses, and security risks.

What should you do to prevent lost or stolen keys in your airport?

Protect Critical Areas

Securing a sprawling airport requires high standards for safeguarding areas like control towers, the tarmac, and the inside of baggage claim. Even a minor distraction, like the wrong person entering the tarmac area, could put passengers, crew, and airport employees at risk. In addition, protecting data centers is critical to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive passenger, employee, and flight information. Intruders or even insiders wishing to do harm would have no shortage of opportunities if they accessed these areas. In addition to SIDA access control, secure any keys to these private areas.

Manage Employee Access

Ensuring only authorized employees can access keys is an important part of airport security. To illustrate the magnitude of this task, let’s look at an example. San Antonio International Airport maintains about 5,000 badged employees. A single worker is tasked with issuing and keeping track of keys, which are stored on hooks in a metal cabinet, to the airport’s 4,000-plus doors. If that seems like a lot, consider that LAX has over 50,000 badged workers, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has more than 60,000. These massive facilities have even more keys to track — far too many for a single person to manage.

Unfortunately, it isn’t enough to rely on trust when issuing keys. Human error can lead to costly outcomes in terms of both funds and safety. Even worse, employee access abuse can do serious harm to an airport. To manage employee access to keys, a streamlined process powered by key control technology is imperative.

Implement Electronic Key Control  

Better key control practices are critical to improving the security of your airport and reducing potential costs. Consider using electronic key control systems that secure keys in locking drawers or wall-mounted panels. The systems will track who accessed a key and when, giving you a verifiable audit trail and cutting down on time spent looking for keys.

You can choose from several authorization methods: a fingerprint, a passcode or even an employee's SIDA badge. Since no two fingerprints are alike, this is perhaps the strongest form of security. But for added security, require multiple forms of identification for the system to unlock. For example, an employee may have to scan a fingerprint and SIDA badge before the system allows access to the keys.

Since a wide variety of employees would need access to these systems, set up permission levels and alerts to control who can remove high-security keys. If a key isn’t returned on time, take advantage of overdue key alerts to ensure you’re able to follow up on missing keys promptly.

Considering the fast-paced and demanding nature of airport operations, you can’t afford to risk lost or stolen keys. By investing in advanced key systems, you’ll elevate your security and ensure your organization continues operating efficiently.