VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #1319/01 2981300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251300Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4786
INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 6525
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS OSLO 001319 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NB 
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR TSA 
BRUSSELS FOR TSA: KEVIN CAHILL, JESUS PRESAS AND PAUL ROGERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR KSEC PREL NO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIAN REGIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY IMPROVING 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  In early October, Embassy RSO and Poloff 
traveled to three regional airports to meet Civil Aviation 
Authority (CAA) and aviation security (AVINOR) personnel and 
to develop performance standards for future Embassy 
assessments of Norwegian airport security.  The Norwegian CAA 
and AVINOR are busy tightening procedures for carry-on items 
and baggage screening in accord with EC regulations.  AVINOR 
plans to extend critical security restrictions to all baggage 
zones at commercial airports by 2009.  Several airports are 
planning further extensions of critical security zones. 
AVINOR receives good support from the Norwegian government 
for its security upgrade programs and is working to broaden 
acceptance of new procedures among existing airport 
employees.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On October 5, Embassy officers met with the 
Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) Director 
General Mr. Heine Richardsen and Head of Security Ms. Bjorg 
Ulset to discuss the CAA's role in security regulation 
development and implementation.  Ulset explained that the 
CAA's security regulations are derived from ICAO Annex 17 and 
EC Regulation 2320.  As part of the EFTA group of countries, 
Norway is obliged to conform with EC aviation safety 
regulations.  When changes are required, the CAA issues and 
distributes implementing regulations to appropriate 
authorities.  Just prior to our meeting, the CAA finalized 
new regulations for carry-on liquids and gels in accord with 
recent EC aviation directives. 
 
TIGHTENING PASSENGER AND FACILITY SECURITY 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Norway screens all passengers and carry-on baggage 
prior to entering airport gate areas, coats and jackets must 
be removed, and laptops and electronics must be taken out of 
their cases.  As of the first week of November, passengers 
must put any liquids or gels in clear plastic bags no more 
than one liter in size, amounts of liquid are limited to 
100ml.  Liquid containing bags will be subject to random 
examination.  Surprisingly, we learned that non-ticketed 
persons are allowed into gate waiting areas at some airports 
provided they pass through security checks.  Norway follows 
EC regulations that require reconciling the identity of those 
checking baggage onto flights with the identity of those who 
board flights.  Regarding in-fight security measures, CAA 
Security Director Ulset stated that Norway may be willing to 
reopen discussions on a U.S. Federal Air Marshal program. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Improvements to airport facility security are being 
planned as well.  On January 1, 2006, Norway  established 
Security Restricted Areas (SRAs) at air terminals, limiting 
access to sensitive areas to personnel carrying electronic 
keycards.  Norway also established Critical Security 
Restricted Areas (CSRAs) in sensitive areas around terminals 
and gates.  To enter and exit these areas, employees must 
undergo physical searches.  In 2009, these CSRAs will be 
expanded to include all areas where baggage travels to comply 
with EC Regulation 1138 (2004).  Oslo Gardermoen airport 
already has a CSRA system around its entire perimeter and we 
were told that most commercial airports have plans to expand 
CSRAs around their perimeters by 2009. 
 
AVINOR AND THE AIRPORTS 
 
¶5.  (SBU) AVINOR is the state-owned company responsible for 
airport operations and security as well as air traffic 
control systems.  We met with AVINOR officials to discuss 
security procedures and how these procedures have altered 
operations.  AVINOR officials expressed some concerns over 
difficulties they have in getting airport personnel to accept 
these new security procedures.  Long-time employees who have 
never gone through physical searches do not welcome the new 
procedures associated with SRAs and CSRAs.  Recently the 
Norwegian pilot's union complained publicly about being 
"distracted" by frequent physical searches when moving in and 
out of gate areas.  Despite these work culture adjustments, 
AVINOR officials told us that they are receiving good support 
and adequate funding from the Norwegian government and that 
their upgrade programs are continuing. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In discussions at regional airports we learned more 
about plans for implementing CSRAs.  Oslo-Gardermoen has a 
CSRA in place around its entire perimeter.  AVINOR officials 
in Trondheim/Vaernes (the third busiest airport in Norway 
after Oslo-Gardermoen and Bergen) were proud to tell us that 
they became the second airport to create a perimeter CSRA on 
March 1, 2006.  In Bodo, AVINOR officials are searching for 
 
ways to configure their airport to meet CSRA requirements by 
¶2009.  The main obstacle in Bodo is that the runway is shared 
with an adjacent Norwegian Air Force base that provides over 
180 degrees of perimeter protection.  This 
military-commercial use situation is shared by several other 
airports in Norway and AVINOR told us that accommodating 
civilian and military needs will likely mean adjusting CSRA 
requirements.  Tromso has plans for major airport expansion. 
Unfortunately, the airport has limited opportunity for growth 
since it sits on the edge of a peninsula and abuts a business 
and residential district.  AVINOR officials in Tromso are 
currently occupied with perimeter security changes (new 
security fencing, new secure entrances, and extension of the 
CSRA into baggage handling areas) and acknowledged 
difficulties in creating a true CSRA around the entire 
perimeter as one runway ends at the fjord's shoreline. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  The CAA and AVINOR are working to 
 
improve security standards at Norwegian airports.  Post now 
has some measurable standards with which to gauge AVINOR's 
progress.  We also have a better understanding of the 
relationship between the CAA, AVINOR, and the regional 
airports.  The establishing CSRAs in regional airports by 
2009 is ambitious, and gives us a metric to use in follow-up 
assessments.  Post will continue to follow-up with the CAA 
and AVINOR on their implementation of their airport security 
upgrade programs.  END COMMENT 
JOHNSON