High-Level Korea-US Aviation Security Cooperation Meeting Held Over Two Days Starting the 21st
Discussion on Technical Cooperation, Personnel Exchange, and Joint Evaluation to Strengthen Bilateral Aviation Security
[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 24th that it has decided to strengthen aviation security cooperation with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in preparation for the recovery of air travel demand in the post-COVID-19 era.
From the 21st to the 22nd, the Ministry held the 10th Korea-U.S. Aviation Security Cooperation virtual meeting and concretized cooperation measures regarding the "performance certification of aviation security equipment that detects explosives and weapons" to prevent terrorism on aircraft and at airports, signing a joint letter of intent.
With the signing of this joint letter of intent, it will be possible to form a working committee of certification bodies (such as the Aviation Safety Technology Institute), share certification test procedures and methods, which the Ministry expects will contribute to improving certification standards and advancing the security equipment industry.
Furthermore, to coordinate aviation security issues that may arise due to increased air travel demand between the two countries and to promptly promote key cooperation tasks such as mutual recognition of aviation security systems, both sides agreed to regularize the dispatch of personnel.
To this end, the Ministry plans to extend the dispatch period of its staff currently assigned to the U.S. TSA, and once preparations are complete, TSA personnel will also be dispatched to the Ministry within this year.
Building on the cooperation meeting, joint evaluations at major airports, on-site visits to Korean airports for mutual recognition of aviation security systems, and strengthening aviation security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region?which had been difficult to implement realistically due to COVID-19?will also be carried out without delay.
Kim Yong-seok, Director of the Aviation Policy Office at the Ministry, said, “Before the recovery of air travel demand, we were able to reaffirm the strong cooperative relationship between the aviation security authorities of both countries, and we expect this will greatly help in alleviating passenger inconveniences for flights to the U.S. and reducing redundant regulations in the future.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
