Short description
This is not an advance notification letter, contract notice or request for tenders, but a request for information (technical dialogue).
Traficom is requesting that market actors take part in a technical dialogue.
As the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for Finland, Traficom is responsible for ensuring that security screeners are certified in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Regulation. Traficom is currently working on a project whose aim is to place the standardised image interpretation test for civil aviation security screeners under the administration of the CAA. The test is administered in an electronic format and taken by the security screener on a computer. The test must be available for completion on the premises of a number of service providers.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 lays down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security, including provisions regarding the certification and testing of civil aviation security screeners. Point 11.3 of the Annex to the Regulation specifies that persons operating x-ray or EDS equipment shall complete the initial certification and persons operating x-ray equipment shall complete recertification at regular intervals not exceeding 3 years.
The fundamental principles of image interpretation systems include:
• regulation SEC M1-1 (description provided in the EU Regulation of the standardised image interpretation test). Standardised image interpretation testing entails using an image interpretation programme, which must contain a library of no less than 1 000 images depicting no less than 250 different threat articles, including images of their component parts. A minimum of 50 randomly selected images must be shown for interpretation during the test, with no individual image shown for longer than 30 seconds. In order to pass the standardised image interpretation test, a candidate must answer 80 per cent of the questions correctly;
• when interpreting the images, security screeners must be able to decide whether the pictured bag or other article could be safely loaded onto the aircraft and/or transported to the airport’s security-restricted area. In addition, screeners must be able to detect and indicate any prohibited articles;
• security screeners may use image enhancement techniques by e.g. modifying the colouration or size of the image;
• the standardised image interpretation test measures the interpreter’s capability to work as a security screener. The amount of time available is a critical element in this context. A time limit must thus be set for the completion of the test. An experienced image interpreter requires about eight minutes to complete 50 images, compared with 30 minutes in the case of a slower candidate. The assumption is that 20 per cent of the images contain a threat. An individual image may be shown for a maximum of 30 seconds;
• the image interpretation system must also serve as the final test for image interpretation related to airport supplies/in-flight supplies and air cargo. In practice, four separate image libraries are required (cabin baggage, hold baggage, airport supplies and air cargo);
• the image interpretation system provides feedback (i.e. the result of the test) immediately following completion. If the candidate fails the test, he or she must undergo additional training and retake the test with a different set of images.
Prohibited articles and substances: lists 4-C, 1-A and 5-B
General requirements for information systems
• the system must be firmware-based;
• the system does not require separate installations to be carried out on the user’s workstation, and can be accessed via the user’s internet browser;
• where necessary, the system must be capable of automatically importing or exporting information using integrations; it must be possible, using integrations, to send information on the user’s performance to the EMPIC EAP system used by Traficom;
• the system must be able to produce different views and reports according to different criteria;
• the tool must fulfil the Agency’s preliminary requirements regarding information security (appendix 2: Non-functional requirements). These requirements may become more specific later.