Beyond Air Safety: The Hidden Challenges of Securing Airport Ground Operations

Michael Bettua Square
February 27, 2025//Airports/airport ground operations, airports, aviation safety, safety airports, worker escorts

Recent incidents highlight aviation safety, but securing airport ground operations is equally critical. Staffing shortages make monitoring contractors difficult, raising security risks. Advanced technologies enable real-time alerts if workers stray from authorized areas, enhancing security without overburdening staff. Combining automated monitoring with human oversight helps airports maintain safety despite workforce limits.

Recent tragic events have focused national attention on aviation safety. While the industry examines air operations, equally critical ground safety challenges demand attention, particularly in how we monitor and secure airport operations.

The risks are real.

At one major U.S. airport, a delivery truck driver separated from their escort and drove down an active runway.

Beyond Air Safety The Hidden Challenges of Securing Airport Ground Operations

While that incident ended without injury, it highlights a growing challenge: airports must monitor hundreds of contractors and delivery workers daily in secure areas but face significant staffing shortages in critical security roles.

Take one of the nation’s busiest airports, where operations teams handle about 150 delivery truck drivers daily—each requiring escort and monitoring. Currently, escorts can only monitor about five workers at a time, and finding qualified personnel is increasingly difficult. Even when airports do hire, these escorts often don’t stay long enough to develop deep knowledge of complex airport protocols and security requirements.

This staffing challenge demands innovative solutions that enhance, rather than compromise, safety standards. New technologies enable airports to maintain comprehensive security coverage while addressing labor constraints. Instead of relying solely on human monitoring, airports can now automatically detect when an escort and worker separate, alert both parties immediately, and prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas.

New technology implementation at another major U.S. airport provides immediate alerts if escorted workers deviate from authorized areas. The system includes physical feedback mechanisms – vibration and warning lights – to notify workers instantly if they enter restricted zones.

This technology augments human judgment rather than replacing it. Each escort becomes more effective while maintaining strict safety protocols. Instead of compromising standards by stretching human resources thin, facilities can deploy systems that enhance their existing workforce’s ability to monitor effectively and respond proactively to potential safety issues.

The future of workforce management in critical infrastructure requires a systematic approach to safety and security. By combining human expertise with advanced monitoring capabilities, airports can maintain and enhance their safety standards despite staffing challenges.

Want to learn more about how technology can help solve your workforce management challenges? Please click here to contact us.

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Our Airport Solution

Solution Airports

The Volan Positioning System (VPS) is a powerful micro-location tracking technology that provides a comprehensive suite of use cases tailored for airports. It addresses both operational efficiency and construction safety, delivering safer, more efficient airport environments.

  • Our Resource Tracking Use Case demonstrates how VPS improves aircraft on-time performance by enabling real-time visibility of ground resources like tugs, baggage handlers, and fuel trucks. VPS proactively prevents delays, optimizes resource allocation, enhances safety, and increases accountability.
  • Our Construction Barrier Use Case showcases how VPS provides a geofenced tracking for airport construction sites, providing instant alerts if workers enter restricted areas, along with precise location data and a live map view. This solution helps airports meet regulatory requirements without the high costs and inefficiencies associated with human escorts.

Learn more about our Solution for Airports