Multi-level aviation and fire safety systems for ground handling of aircraft..
Zubkov Boris Vasilievich, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor
Bochkarev Alexander Nikolaevich, Associate Professor
Department of Flight Safety and Life Support, Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation,
Multi-level systems of aviation and fire safety during ground handling of aircraft
The article examines the issues of preventing the threat of using explosives, poisonous and toxic substances as sabotage agents at civil aviation facilities, as well as the need for the earliest possible implementation of multi-level systems for protecting aircraft from acts of unlawful interference.
One of the main tasks of ensuring aviation and fire safety in civil aviation is to prevent hazardous substances from entering air transport facilities (aircraft, passenger and cargo terminals, fuel stations, air traffic control buildings), especially liquid and solid flammable, explosive, poisonous and toxic substances.
In order to comprehensively ensure aviation and fire safety during ground handling of aircraft at airports, the most modern technical means of inspection and new multi-level systems for ensuring aircraft flight safety should be used. At the first level, standard methods for identifying hazardous substances and objects are usually used. At the second and third levels, special equipment is used to detect liquid and solid flammable, explosive, toxic and poisonous substances.
The analysis shows that HazMatID — a portable chemical substance identifier (Fig. 1) can be used for the prompt detection of liquid explosive and poisonous substances.
HazMatID — a portable detector, the operation of which is based on the technology of spectral analysis in the IR range. To analyze the chemical composition, it is necessary to place only a few drops or granules of the analyzed substance on the diamond disk at the top of the device.
Each chemical element has its own unique fingerprint in infrared light. The result is compared with a database located in the device and containing information on more than 25,000 chemical substances and compounds.
In case of detection of new, unknown substances, the system allows you to conduct a chemical analysis and, if necessary, add information about them to the database on the built-in storage device.
The built-in software has a Windows operating system interface.
Fig. 1. General view of HazMatID
Technical characteristics of the device:
• technology: IR spectrometry;
• substance database: 25,000 entries, including: explosives, toxic, poisonous, poisonous and narcotic substances;
• user interface: touch screen, built-in Windows OS;
• network technologies: LAN support with secure authorization function, wireless interface standard 802.11b, 2.4 GHz, with a data transfer rate of 11 Mbps, with support for 128-bit encryption (WEP);
• operating conditions: temperature from -7 to +500C, humidity from 0 to 100%;
• battery life: 2 hours (full charge cycle: 3 hours);
• weight: 10 kg; dimensions (W x H x D): 44 x 30 x 19 cm;
• power supply: built-in battery, power supply from 220V power supply, power supply from 12V car power supply.
When inspecting aircraft for possible toxic, poisonous, explosive substances, chemical weapons, it is also possible to use the portable SABRE 4000 detector (Fig. 2). SABRE 4000 is capable of simultaneously detecting the presence of explosives and toxic substances, chemical weapons and drugs. SABRE 4000 detects and identifies over 40 hazardous substances within 20 seconds. Weighing approximately 3 kg (including a 4-hour battery), SABRE 4000 is the most compact and powerful device in its class. SABRE 4000 is capable of analyzing both particles and vapors of substances, which allows the operator to use the best collection technique for detecting hazardous substances. It is known that some explosives have low volatility, and in a real situation it is very difficult to detect their vapors.
The best sampling method for detecting these substances is microparticle collection. At the same time, the vapor analysis method is more effective for detecting many flammable, toxic, poisonous and poisonous substances.
Technical characteristics of the SABRE 4000 detector:
• technology: ion mobility spectrometry (IMS);
• sampling: contact and non-contact methods;
• detection of explosives: hexogen, pentrite, TNT, Semtex, ammonium nitrate, HMX, nitroglycerin, etc.;
• detection of drugs: cocaine, heroin, TNS (hemp), methamphetamine, etc.;
• detection of chemical weapons: nerve agents, mustard gas, etc.;
• analysis duration: 10-15 sec., warm-up time — less than 10 min.;
• dimensions (W x H x D): 40 x 34 x 32 cm.;
• weight — 3.2 kg with battery;
• power supply: 12 V, 220 V, from its own battery (4 hours of autonomous operation).
Fig. 2. General view of SABRE 4000
Currently, for the effective detection of explosives during ground handling of aircraft, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) technology has been developed, which allows detecting picograms of explosives, toxic, poisonous, poisonous, narcotic and psychotropic substances in just a few seconds.
Devices developed on the basis of IMS technology detect microscopic doses of prohibited substances remaining on clothing, skin, hair, in luggage or documents of a person after contact with them. Pairs of substances that have been in closed spaces (containers, luggage) for a long time are also easily detected. This class of equipment is an important link in multi-level aviation and fire safety systems, complementing existing inspection systems based on standard X-ray technologies and metal detectors.
All IMS devices operate on the principle of sampling and subsequent analysis for the presence of particles of detectable substances. Sampling is performed by sucking in air containing microscopic doses of the substances being analyzed and then concentrating it on a special membrane. The membrane is heated, and the resulting gas is directed by the air flow into the ionizer. Then the ions are accelerated by an electric field in the oncoming air flow, hit the collector, lose their charge and are ejected by the air flow outside.
Depending on the type of substance, the mobility (speed of movement) of ions varies, so different particles reach the collector at different times. Based on this difference, a time diagram (plasmogram) is constructed, allowing the presence, type and relative concentration of a particular substance to be determined.
This method provides the highest possible sensitivity and accuracy in determining the presence of traces of more than 40 types of explosives, toxic, poisonous, poisonous, narcotic and other dangerous substances.
It should be noted that the widespread use of X-ray television systems to check passenger hand luggage has proven its effectiveness and has become a standard in screening procedures, but its use for scanning people is severely limited due to the harmful effects of X-ray radiation. The development of modern technologies has made it possible to abandon X-rays and create a unique highly sensitive camera capable of capturing natural microwave radiation in the 3 mm range. For example, the TADAR system is a unique step forward in human scanning technologies. Based on microwave technology, TADAR creates a high-quality image of dangerous objects hidden on the human body in real time. TADAR detects dangerous objects and substances hidden under clothing. An important advantage is the absolute harmlessness of the method: the analysis uses natural radiation of the human body in the microwave range, which freely passes through clothing, but is retained by denser objects.
The integrated use of new technical means and multi-level inspection systems during ground servicing of aircraft will prevent possible acts of terrorism and illegal interference in aviation activities using liquid and solid flammable, explosive, poisonous and toxic substances.
Literature
1. ICAO Security Manual for Safeguarding Civil Aviation from Acts of Unlawful Interference (Doc 8973). 6th edition. — ICAO, 2002.
2. Federal Law of the Russian Federation of March 6, 2006 No. 35-FZ «On Combating Terrorism».