Security: Unlawful Interference, Sabotage and Safeguarding
This domain tests Annex 17 and the international conventions against unlawful interference, together with the European security rulebook. Questions ask which convention covers which act, who has authority on board, and what a State or operator must establish.
Annex 17 obligations
Each State must establish a National Civil Aviation Security Programme and a National Civil Aviation Security Authority, and must designate a competent authority for airport and operator security programmes. Airports must have an Airport Security Programme and an Airport Security Committee, and operators must have an Operator Security Programme. Annex 17 requires access control into security restricted areas, screening of passengers and cabin baggage, protection of aircraft and catering supplies, and background checks for personnel with unescorted access.
The conventions
Tokyo 1963 covers offences and certain other acts committed on board aircraft, giving the State of registry jurisdiction and the aircraft commander powers to restrain a person when there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence has been committed. The Hague Convention 1970 deals with unlawful seizure of aircraft. The Montreal Convention 1971 deals with unlawful acts of violence against aviation, including sabotage, and the 1988 Montreal Protocol extends it to acts of violence at international airports. The Beijing Convention and Protocol of 2010 modernised the framework, and the Montreal Protocol 2014 amended the Tokyo Convention to widen jurisdiction and address unruly passengers.
Europe
Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 sets common basic standards; Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 contains the detailed implementing measures, amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/1583 on cyber security and detection equipment. Member States may apply more stringent measures.
Worked example
A passenger becomes violent during a flight from an EU State to a non-EU State. The commander may take reasonable measures including restraint, because the Tokyo Convention, as amended by the 2014 Montreal Protocol, gives the commander authority and requires the State of landing to accept delivery of an alleged offender. The State of registry retains jurisdiction; the destination State may also exercise jurisdiction.
Traps
The 1988 Montreal Protocol extends the 1971 Montreal Convention (airport violence), whereas the 2014 Montreal Protocol amends the 1963 Tokyo Convention. Annex 17 is security; Annex 9 is facilitation. Threat levels and screening methods are State responsibilities, not operator discretion.