This issue is the final time Aviation Security International goes to press. For its editor-in-chief, it has, for almost quarter of a century, been a labour of love. Philip Baum has served as its editor and, for a number of years, its owner. He has personally penned 138 lead editorials, conducted 11 exclusive interviews, and written 56 feature articles himself, whilst editing the contributions of hundreds of other authors. As this title enters the annals of aviation security history, Philip writes one final article in which he guides us through the journal’s development, highlights some of his own messages delivered - signposted by many of the industry’s key incidents - and shares, in a personal way, his own reflections on his time at the helm.

On 22 February 2020, an interview with Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, appeared in The Times in which he slated current airport security measures and argued that we should focus on young Muslim men as they were more likely to be terrorists. “Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males travelling on their own. If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is f***ing zero. You can’t say stuff, because it’s racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago, it was the Irish. If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat.” He is so, so wrong. A robust industry response is required as his argument is ignorant, illogical and incendiary. Worse still, it puts the campaign for embracing behavioural analysis back years as, once again, tactical risk assessment will be interpreted as a licence to racially profile. So, here is my open letter to O’Leary appealing for a more considered approach that addresses the very shortcomings of the current system he clearly recognises.

The world's aviation security regulators are preparing to gather in Montreal for the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) second Global Aviation Security Symposium (AVSEC 2018). As a precursor to the event, Aviation Security International's Editor, Philip Baum asks Sylvain Lefoyer, ICAO's Deputy Director of Aviation Security and Facilitation, how we can truly create an effective global security system granted the multitude of different socio-economic factors impacting Member States. Sylvain Lefoyer answers questions on the legislative process, auditing systems, GASeP progress, threat response and the issues due to be debated in Montreal this November.

On Tuesday 30th January 2018, at the headquarters of the US Transportation Security Administration in Arlington, TSA Administrator David Pekoske met with Aviation Security International’s editor, Philip Baum, to discuss some of the current challenges facing US and global aviation security, the achievements of the TSA since its inception and the work that still has to be done to ensure that the skies become even safer and more secure than they are today. ASI is delighted to be able to share with its readership their conversation.

One year ago, on 2nd February 2016, Daallo Airlines flight 159 departed Mogadishu bound for Djibouti. In the cockpit’s left hand seat was an experienced Serbian captain, Vladimir (Vlatko) Vodopivec, who had no idea that this was to be his final flight. Shortly after departure, a passenger, seated in a window seat in the sixteenth row, detonated, either knowingly or unwittingly, the improvised explosive device concealed within the laptop computer he had brought on board – one given to him, after the screening checkpoint, by airport-based employees. The blast ripped a hole in the Airbus’ fuselage and sucked Abdullahi Abdisalam Borleh out of the aircraft. But the explosion had taken place at relatively low altitude and Captain Vodopivec was able to maintain control of the aircraft and return to, and safely land in, the Somali capital. On the anniversary of the attack, Philip Baum travelled to Belgrade to meet with the heroic commander to hear his account of the Daallo Airlines bombing.

Dr. Abdulla Al Hashimi is the Senior Vice President for Emirates Group Security who has strived to create a pro-active, risk based security regime to protect one of the world’s most prestigious carriers and to serve as an example of industry best practice. Philip Baum asks Dr Al Hashimi for his thoughts on the threats of today, the challenges of tomorrow and for his views on the steps which can, and are, being taken to ensure a safe and secure aviation industry.