For many, profiling means questioning. Yet, that does not have to be the case. The true essence of profiling lies in what we see and what we hear, rather than in what we ask, as Philip Baum explains.

It was December, that festive time of the year. And I'm not referring to Christmas, Diwali or Chanukah. No, for the aviation security industry the year culminated as usual with the Avsec World conference and exhibition. And for 1996 the venue was Sydney, Australia. Philip Baum reviews events and offers some thoughts on the show.

There is an international disparity in standards of airport and airline security of that, there is, no argument. Philip Baum discusses some of the more alarming differences, especially those that apply to US carriers.