Israel's Aviation Security Reforms Delayed Amid Unworkable Demands
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel's aviation security reforms are stalled as a demand for pre-approval of foreign flight crews has been deemed unworkable. Data on flight crews is only received after aircraft doors close, and a proposed 48-hour visa pre-approval plan is not feasible. The Ministry of Transportation was surprised by these findings, which indicate a lack of progress in screening foreign crews following a near-disaster involving a Flydubai flight.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's aviation security reforms are delayed due to unworkable demands for pre-approving flight crews.
- Data on foreign flight crews is only received after aircraft doors close, hindering screening.
- A proposed 48-hour visa pre-approval plan for pilots has been deemed unfeasible.
- The Ministry of Transportation was surprised by the findings of the investigation.
- Existing procedures for screening foreign flight crews have not changed since a recent incident.
Israel's efforts to implement lessons learned from the near-disaster involving a Flydubai flight are facing significant delays, with a key demand for pre-approval of flight crews deemed "unworkable." While the Minister of Transportation is expected to receive the findings of an investigation into the averted aviation incident, a recent document reveals that effective screening of foreign flight crews arriving in Israel remains impossible. According to the document, data on flight crews is only received after the aircraft doors have closed, and a proposed plan for 48-hour visa pre-approval for pilots cannot be implemented.
The Ministry of Transportation expressed surprise at these findings, which indicate a deadlock in addressing the security vulnerabilities. The incident, which occurred approximately two weeks ago, raised questions about whether foreign crews entering Israel are subject to enhanced security checks. The official response from the National Center for Passenger Data Diagnosis (מל"ן) is that no changes have been made to existing procedures. Furthermore, the מל"ן stated that while flight companies do report on their crews, this information is provided only after the plane doors are shut.
Minister Miri Regev had proposed a new system requiring visas for foreign pilots to be approved 48 hours in advance. However, a document from the investigation, sent to the Ministry of Transportation by the head of the מל"ן, Oren Ben Shabbat, concluded that this idea is not feasible. The letter states that it is currently impossible to screen personnel based on necessary safety criteria, and that data from foreign airlines is received too late to be effective.
This revelation has caught the Ministry of Transportation completely by surprise, highlighting that despite ongoing investigations, practical solutions for identifying incoming foreign flight crews are still lacking. The report also implicitly points to the Ministry of Transportation's legal authority and responsibility for setting security protocols for foreign flights entering Israel, including the screening and identity verification of pilots and aircrew, a responsibility that was reportedly not enforced for years prior to the incident.
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