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Canada Proposes to Boost Airport Security With Biometric Technology

Posted on: Monday, 13 November 2006, 15:00 CST

The Canadian government is proposing to boost airport security with biometric technology.

Canada's minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, Lawrence Cannon, is calling for the implementation of a restricted area identity card by the Transport Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

Through the use of biometrics, the card is designed to enhance the restricted area pass system currently in place at Canada's 29 major airports for airport personnel, including flight crews, refuelers, caterers and others who require access to restricted areas.

The restricted area identity card incorporates unique human characteristics, such as fingerprints and iris patterns, and technology to accurately identify individuals accessing restricted areas at airports.

Transport Canada and CATSA have been working in partnership with airport authorities to develop and deploy this enhanced card system, which uses biometrics to support the issuance, verification, cancellation and tracking of restricted area identification cards.

To gain access to an airport's restricted area, cardholders will be required to have either their fingerprint or iris scanned by biometric readers at individual airports.

This new card system is scheduled to be deployed at Canada's 29 major airports for approximately 120,000 aviation workers by December 31, 2006.

The restricted area identity card (RAIC) uses smart card technology, which integrates a small computer chip to store two kinds of biometric data: fingerprint and iris templates.

Airport personnel who are issued the card will continue to be subject to access control requirements such as random screening, and background security checks.

Source: Datamonitor

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