Aviation Security International: The Right Company at the Right Time

Corporate aviation is getting complacent again about security, says Charlie LeBlanc, vp of operations at Aviation Security International (ASI). Speaking on the inaugural day of the convention, LeBlanc had a blunt message to all delegates: next time aviation terrorism strikes, corporate aviation must not be in the spotlight.

The new ASI logo also unveiled on Tuesday may be in response to increased business stemming from the events of a year ago, but ASI has been around for 13 years, advising on an increasing range of issues. It was also announced that ASI has spun off from the AR Group of companies to become an independent entity.

ASI has 250 agents reporting to it from 110 countries. Convention delegates will be most involved with its consultancy services for flight departments, but this is now far wider-ranging than just protecting the hangar against intruders. Threat assessments need to be made for different regions and countries of the world that the corporate aircraft will visit, and it is as important to protect the crew as it is the chairman.

Security advice does not stop there. Employees traveling by scheduled airline are also looking to their company to keep them safe, so ASI is able to advise those companies on which carrier should be used (or avoided) and what the threats are to its staff on arrival-down to the incidence of lower-level crime, such as mugging, and how it can be avoided.

Sample copies of The Airline Insider, ASI's detailed analysis and rating of 135 airlines worldwide, can be inspected at Booth 2636.

By Paul Jackson