Regulators in Aviation Security and Other Areas

Even the best technology is ineffective without qualified personnel who can put its skills to use. Thus, as much attention should be devoted to the human operator as to technological innovations. This involves a reliable selection process, sound training of personnel, and the periodical verification of the respective competencies. In order to assess a security screener’s X-ray image interpretation competency, reliable and valid certification tests are legally required in the European Union. The commission regulation 185/2010 (Official Journal of the European Union, 2010) mandates that all persons operating X-ray or explosive detection systems (EDS) shall conduct initial and recurrent certification using standardized X-ray image interpretation tests (at least every three years) in order to make sure that they achieve and maintain the required image interpretation competency.

Based on extensive scientific studies, we developed standardized reliable and valid tests to measure detection performance of security officers of prohibited objects in the areas of Cabin Baggage Screening, Hold Baggage Screening, Cargo Screening and Mail Screening. CASRA’s X-Ray Competency Assessment Test was developed according to EU regulation (EC 300/2008 and EC 2015/1998) and can be used for official competency assessment of X-ray screeners.

Example Use Case: Croation Civil Aviation Agency

Having pioneered security officer certification in Switzerland more than ten years ago, CASRA was asked to provide expertise for the introduction of computer-based competency assessment tests (X-Ray CAT) in Croatia in collaboration with the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA). The objective of the X-Ray CAT is to distinguish security officers showing sufficiently high detection performance from security officers showing insufficient detection performance using an objective, reliable, valid, and standardized instrument for measuring detection performance.

Example Use Case: Croation Civil Aviation Agency

Having pioneered security officer certification in Switzerland more than ten years ago, CASRA was asked to provide expertise for the introduction of computer-based competency assessment tests (X-Ray CAT) in Croatia in collaboration with the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA). The objective of the X-Ray CAT is to distinguish security officers showing sufficiently high detection performance from security officers showing insufficient detection performance using an objective, reliable, valid, and standardized instrument for measuring detection performance.