Page 33 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019 Online Magazine
P. 33
[ INTERVIEW - ESG ELEKTRONIKSYSTEM - UND LOGISTIK GMBH ]
Edited Excerpts:
Following the recent events at Gatwick,
it seems everyone is talking about
protection against drones. Could the
Security events at Gatwick have been prevented
Conscious Intrusions, or drone flights over airports, would be difficult
using technology?
to prevent completely. The area covered by an airport is
often too large for it to be completely monitored. We also
have to consider the high costs associated with the use
of technology. But with a well thought-out strategy and
a multi-sensor, multi-effector system like GUARDION for
the secure detection of, and defence against, dangers
caused by uncooperative drones, the chaos that was
experienced could have been brought to an end much
faster, which would have minimised the downtime costs
and the negative impact on passengers.
How exactly does the GUARDION
system operate?
The system includes a broad portfolio of sensors that
automatically detect and classify drones. The portfolio
includes RF bearing estimation and analysis of remote
control systems, radar systems and acoustic arrays,
and also camera solutions to verify the drones that are
detected.
Could something similar to Gatwick
happen in Germany, and how well are
German airports prepared for such
an incident?
It goes without saying that the same threat scenarios
also apply here. They could range from careless use of
drones by private individuals to deliberate interference
and even actions motivated by terrorism. Unfortunately,
German airports are in a similar situation to those
in the UK. Because of the division of responsibilities
that continues to apply between airport operators,
various police units, the Interior Ministry, the Ministry
of Transport, and airport security, no German airport
yet has sufficient precautions in place to be able to
respond any better in a similar situation.
Unmanned platforms are now commonplace as a result
of which, conflicts in the sky, and illegal entry into no-fly What is the system-based strategy and
zones, will continue to increase. As per some forecasts, airport must take to protect itself?
in Germany alone, by 2030, an estimated 850,000
drones will be in private and commercial use. “Strategies The first thing to remember is that we cannot resort to
for air security are an essential condition for the safe trial-and-error in an environment where large numbers
and orderly commercial use of drones,” says Daniela of human lives are potentially at stake. In other words,
Hildenbrand, Business Development Manager at ESG any system for air surveillance must be available on the
Elektroniksystem- und Logistik GmbH, while answering market and have been tested for use. It must also be
some questions on the topic in the runup to U.T.SEC – capable of being used both as a mobile and as a station-
Summit for Drones, Unmanned Technologies & Security, ary solution, and should identify both the drone and its
which takes place at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg pilot. The false alarm rate must be kept to a minimum, to
in March. ensure that not every small aircraft that approaches trig-
ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE January/February 2019 | 33
