printer friendly version

High-flying access control

Project scope

20 biometric enrolment stations Morpho Enrolment & Management System.

100 fixed biometric terminals: MorphoAccess.

15 mobile biometric terminals: MorphoTouch.

90 000 employees.

Two airports.

Approximately 30 000 biometric access control transactions take place each day at this site.

The history

Aéroports de Paris (ADP) manages all airports and airfields dedicated to civil air navigation within 50 km around Paris, including Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly (49 and 24 million passengers respectively in 2003). As a state-owned company created in 1945, ADP is the head office of 91 offices nationally, and has always followed the evolutions of air transport, especially in terms of security. The head office is also the central hub for the Police AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System), responsible for processing and management of criminal records.

Enforcing airport security is now becoming a priority in the field of air transport. It is also the essential step towards the recovery of growth in this market. New airport security regulations have been issued which are in force at both international level through ICAO (Appendix 17 revised in June 2002), and at European level through ECAC (new regulation on civil aviation security of January 2003).

These regulations are applicable to any airport, airline, or any company involved in air transport. They require, among others, the efficient access control to aircraft restricted areas, checking in particular the staff identity. Biometrics is definitely the most efficient solution, for security as well as for facilitation.

The existing solution needed to be enhanced in order to allow for more accurate and reliable access control based on biometric identification, and also to reduce the time taken by staff to access working zones.

Enforcing airport security is fast becoming a priority in the field of air transport. It is also the essential step towards the recovery of growth in this market. New airport security regulations have been issued which are in force at both international level through ICAO (Appendix 17 revised in June 2002), and at European level through ECAC (new regulation on civil aviation security of January 2003).

The goal

Sagem biometrics authentication system biometrically controls the identity of the airport staff and the access to highly secured areas (90 000 employees in Roissy and Orly). The selected technology relies on digital fingerprint (with detection of 'fake finger'), data encryption and contactless smartcards. With over 100 fixed and 15 mobile security checkpoints, along with 20 enrolment stations, this biometric system will be Europe's largest airport staff identity control system.

The main objective of installing the system was to dramatically enhance security levels, and effectively control and manage 90 000 employees.

The benefits

More accurate and reliable access control based on biometric identification and authentication, and also to reduce the time taken by staff to access working zones.

Full fake finger detection capabilities, to protect against even the most advanced attacks on the system.

In summary

The system was awarded through a tender process. Several expert organisations were involved in the specification, design and implementation of the system and all goals successfully achieved.

Fact file

Key service providers, products and solutions:

Prime contractor: Sagem, Francis Weiss, Sagem SA 0933 1 58 12 44 65.

Biometric products: Sagem Morpho range, distributed in southern Africa by Ideco Technologies, Gary Jones, 011 442 0064, info@ideco.co.za

Specialist in security information systems: Omnitech, Alexandre Vigier, 0933 1 56 20 63 14.

ADP (Aéroports de Paris - Paris Region Airports), M. Pierre Bourgin 0933 1 49 75 11 05, pierre.bourgin@adp.fr

Share this article:

Further reading: