GB2183582A

GB2183582A - Aircraft security method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2183582A
Application number: GB08529630A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neville Hamilton Birch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-12-02
Filing date: 1985-12-02
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB8529630D0

Abstract

A method of reducing risk of death or injury to air passengers and aircrew and damage to aircraft as a result of air piracy comprises introducing into the environment of the interior of the aircraft through ducting means provided in the structure of the aircraft, one or more substances e.g. smoke, CN or CS gas to impair the faculties of persons present inside the aircraft to enable the aircraft to be brought under the control of security personnel.

Description

SPECiFICATION Aircraft security method and apparatus, and aircraft equipped therewith The present invention relates to an aircraft security method and apparatus, and to aircraft equipped with such apparatus.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a methodofcombatting airpiracy,toapparatusfor use in such a method, and to aircraft equipped to counter air piracy by means of said method and apparatus.

Air piracy, which is commonly referred to as hijacking orsky-jacking, is a relatively modern phenomenon and a problem which has arisen for a number of reasons, among which can be mentioned the relative ease with which individuals, or groups of individuals, with political, idealistic or personal grievances are able to board modern transport air- craft as passengers, and the vulnerability of such aircraft, particularly when carrying large numbers of passengers, in the face of demands and threats which may be made by such individuals or groups afterthey have boarded the aircraft.

Measures which have been taken so far to counter air piracy have in the main been directed towards improving airportsecurity. However, not all nations have been equally diligent in improving the security of their airports, and, in any case, even the securest of airports cannot guarantee that no passenger boarding an aircraft is a hi-jacker.

Another measure which has been adopted by some nations and by some airlines is the carriage on some or all airline flights of one or more armed security guards. Although this has been successful in thwarting a number air piracy attemptsthere have been other instances where the presence farmed security guards has increased the risk of death or injury to passengers and aircrew. Also, it can be hypo thesized that persons planning air piracy will tend to avoid airlines carrying security guards and will preferto use airlines and airports known not to have taken the most stringent security precautions.

Perhaps due to a reluctance bythe authorities and airlines to take any action which might put at riskthe health, safety and convenience of passengers and aircrewthere has been little or no attempt to tackle the problem of air piracy from the point of viewof of view making aircraft structures and systems more secure from piracy, and it is this approach which the present invention is concerned with.It should be stressed, however, that it is not intended that the practice of the present invention will result in any injury or damage to health of passengers or aircrew, or that the practice ofthis invention will contravene any law or regulationswhich may be in force concerning the safety of passengers or aircrew, orthe carriage of materials by air.

The purpose of the present invention isto provide meansfortemporarilydisabling air pirates when on board aircraft, so as to assist security personnel in regaining control ofthe aircraft, and to prevent or in hibitairpiratesfromtaking actions which may put passengers, aircrew orthe aircraft at risk.

One of the difficulties facing authorities who have to deal with air piracy incidents is that any action taken directly against air pirates has a high risk of directly or indirectly adversely affecting passengers and aircrew, due to the latter's close proximity to the hi-jackers. Moreover, it may in any event by difficult orimpossible in some situations readilytodistingu- ish between hi-jackers and passengers,theformerin any case having ipso facto been taken on board on the basis of their appearance as bona fide passengers, although they may subsequently of course have changed theirciothing, perhapstosomeform of uniform, in order to render themselves more readily identifiable for their own purposes.Systems have been proposed for carrying hidden cameras on aircraftto assist in identifying hi-jackers and their positions in the aircraft. However, the method ofthe present invention does not rely on being able to distinguish hi-jackers from bona fide passengers.

The concept of the present invention lies in provid- ing meansforimpairing thefaculties of hijackerson board the aircraft so thatthey are less able, or unable, to prevent security personnel from taking control of the aircraft. The faculties of passengers and aircrew are likely also to be indiscriminately affected but since it is not likely that passengers and aircrew will need to take intelligent action at this time, such temporary impairment, inconvenience and possible discomfort, may be regarded by those concerned as a small price to payto avoid high risk of personal injury or loss of life whilst hi-jackers continue to be in control of the aircraft.

It should be understood that the present invention is not intended to provide a complete solution to air piracy, but ratherto putan additional tool braid in the hands ofsecurity personnel which can be used as part of an overall strategy in dealing with specific hijacking incidents.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of reducing the risk of death or injury to air passengers and their crew and damage to aircraft as a result of action by air pirates, which method comprises introducing intotheenvironmentofthe interior of the aircraftthrough ducting means provided in the structure ofthe aircraft one or more substances in amountsufficientto impair one or more of the faculties of persons present inside the aircraft but in amount insufficient to cause permanent injury to said persons, so as to enable the aircraft to be brought underthe control of security personnel.

According to one embodiment of the method of this invention the said substance is or includes non toxicsmoketotemporarilyimpairthevision of persons present in the aircraft, and in particular of course the hi-jackers.

Additionally or alternatively, however, the said substance is, or includes, an inca pacitant such as CS gas or CN gas, being examples ofwell-known gases/ aerial dispersions which are particularly suitable, having no long-term harmful effects.

However, it is recognised thatthe availability of gases and agents in wide-ranging categories with suitable properties for the purpose described exist and may be chosen fortheir progressive or fast effects and absence of subsequent harmful effects, de pendent on the circumstances of the hi-jacking event. They may be introduced by the methods described either singly or in multiple form and/or in combination with non-toxic smoke. Moreover, the smoke may be introduced by area in the cabin ofthe aircraft, i.e. forward, centre or aft, so thatthetotal cabin volume would not necessarily be obscured in the early stages of introduction. The tactical use of the substances employed is evident. The aforementioned use of cameras can be used to enhance the planned regaining of initiative and control ofthe aircraft.

Provision may be made for storing such substance or substances under secure conditions on board the aircraft so thatthe method of the present invention can be brought into use without necessity for security personnel to approach the aircraft, with the possible attendant hazards which this might involve.

Alternativelythesaid substances or substances may be supplied from outside the aircraft in which case the aircraft will be provided with inlet means to enable the said substance or substances to be introduced into the ducting means situated in the aircraft. In the latter case it may be necessaryto bring said substance or substances to the aircraft under cover of darkness and/or in an armoured vehicle.

It will be appreciated that it may be convenientto introduce said substance or substances into the en vironment ofthe interior ofthe aircraftthrough the aircraft's own ventilation or air-conditioning system, since such will probably ensure that the substance or substances reach most parts of the interior of the aircraft within a short space of time and can therefore act quickly, and ideally before the hi-jackers realise thatthe method of the present invention has been brought into effect.

In my co-pending patent application number 85262401 have described apparatus for preventing or reducing injury and loss of life of passengers and crew ofaircraftthrough fuel fire providing ducting means for conveying air under pressure from outside the aircraftto the interior of the aircraft. Such apparatus as is more particularly described in my copending application can with advantage be used in the method ofthe present invention for introducing the aforementioned substances into the environment ofthe interior of the aircraft, for example by introducing smoke and/or a debilitating gas which would not be replaced by clean air as described in my co-pending application.Although a fire rescue vehicle might be used to supply the aircraft security system which I have described, it is probable that in most instances it would be more appropriate to supply the substance or substances by a cylinder or othercontainerin a less conspicuous manner, preferably under cover of darkness, the cylinder or other container being connected to inlet means on the ex terior ofthe aircraft.

The present invention also includes apparatus suitable for use in the method described which apparatus comprises ducting means situated in the structure of the aircraft for conveying said substances or substances; one or more outlets into the environment of the interior of the aircraft; means for introducing said substance or substances into the said ducting means,and control meansforcontrolling the supply of said substance orsubstancesto the environment ofthe interior ofthe aircraft.

In the case where the said substance or substances are stored in a secure manner on board the aircraft, the release of the substance may be underthecon- trol of eitherthe air crew on board the aircraftorsecurity staff outside the aircraft. To this end, securityprotected switches may be provided both inside the aircraft and at the exterior of the aircraft to enable the method ofthe present invention to be put into effect.

Wherethe supply ofthe said substance orsubstances is provided from outside the aircraft, the control will be effected by security personnel outside the aircraft.

Unlike the fire-emergency situations which are described in my aforementioned co-pending patent application, the aircraft may be already using an auxiliary power unit for operating the electrical services and air-conditioning services ofthe aircraft which could be used to introduce the said substance or substances, although it should be borne in mind that auxiliary power units also actto exhaustthe airconditioning system. Consequently, if the exhausting function ofthe auxiliary power unit is in use, the said substance or substances may have to be introduced in a larger quantity to overcome the effect of the exhausting function.

It will be understood that the scope of the present invention extends to aircraft equipped with the apparatus which I have described. Such aircraft include both civil and military aircraft, including aeroplanes and helicopters, and also include hovercraft.

Claims

1. A method of reducing riskofdeath orinjuryto air passengers and aircrew and damage to aircraft as a result of action by air pirates, which method comprises introducing into the environment of the in terior ofthe aircraft through ducting means provided in the structure of the aircraft, one or more substances in amountsufficientto impairone or more of the faculties of persons present inside the aircraft but in amount insufficient to cause permanent injury to those persons, so asto enable the aircraft to be brought underthe control of security personnel.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said substance is or includes non-toxic smoke.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the said substance is, or includes, an incapacitant.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the incapacitant is CS gas or CN gas.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said substance orsubstances are stored under secure conditions on board the aircraft.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the said substance or substances are supplied from outside the aircraft and the aircraft is provided with inlet means to enablethe said substance or substances to be introduced into said ducting means.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preced ing claimswherein said substance orsubstances are introduced into the environment ofthe interior ofthe aircraftthrough the aircraft's ventilation or airconditioning system.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preced- ing claims wherein apparatus as described and claimed in my co-pending PatentApplication No.

8526240 is employed to introduce said substance or substances into the environment of the interiorofthe aircraft.

9. Apparatus suitablefor use in the method claimed in claim 1 which apparatus comprises ducting means situated in the structure of the aircraft for conveying said substance or substances; one or more outlets into the environmentofthe interior of the aircraft; means for introducing said substance or substances into the said ducting means; and control meansforcontrolling the supplyofsaid substance or substances to the environment ofthe interior ofthe aircraft.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9when com- prising apparatus as described and claimed in my co-pending Patent Application 8526240.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 orclaim 10 when comprising secure storage means on board the aircraftforstorage of said substance orsub- stances.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 toll when comprising inlet means at the exterior of the aircraft for introducing said substance or substances from outside the aircraft.

13. Aircraft whenever equipped with apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12.