Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) hosted high-level aviation officials from the Philippines for two weeks of training in Indianapolis, part of an international partnership aimed at improving security at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
The training showcased TSA Indiana’s successful operational model and shared best practices on threat detection, operational leadership, scheduling, crisis management and screening, which can be implemented and replicated overseas.
“TSA Indiana is thrilled to partner with Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) and other local stakeholders to showcase the top-tier security practices in place at Indianapolis International Airport and help our international partners acquire useful knowledge they can apply back home in the Philippines,” TSA Indiana Federal Security Director Aaron Batt said. “Raising the global baseline for airport security has positive implications at home as well as abroad, and TSA is deeply grateful for the warm welcome our partners in Indiana have extended to the delegation.”
Representatives from the Philippines’ Office for Transportation Security (OTS), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and Philippine Airlines (PAL) participated in the training, part of TSA’s Airport Partnership Program. TSA Indiana was selected in early 2019 to partner with OTS and MIAA to prioritize security goals and share best practices. Since then, TSA has hosted virtual meetings and sent TSA Indiana staff to the Philippines to assist with on-the-ground training on new security equipment, processes, and procedures at MNL.
“The Indianapolis International Airport is a world-class airport thanks to the cooperation and collaboration between airport business partners, including TSA Indiana,” said IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez. “We’re honored to welcome this international delegation and connect them with our incredible team, who are one of the reasons why we’re recognized as the Best Airport in North America, year after year.”
The program, supported through the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, kicked off with a welcome event Monday, March 20, at an IND checkpoint featuring remarks from TSA and IAA officials, as well as U.S. Rep. Greg Pence. Participants are also scheduled to receive tours of Indianapolis International Airport (IND) checkpoints, the airfield perimeter, Airport Fire Station and the Airport Emergency Operations Center; trainings on risk mitigation, action plans, and threat detection; and a demonstration from TSA Indiana’s explosive-detection canine teams. The international delegation will also visit the Indiana Statehouse and Indianapolis Motor Speedway later in the week.
The IND-MNL Airport Partnership Program is the first of its kind, although TSA could expand the program in the future to include other domestic and international airports. The initiative is designed to facilitate the exchange of information, best practices, lessons learned, and airport-to-airport technical assistance to achieve both domestic and international benefits.
