CATSA will continue to work collaboratively with Transport Canada, airport authorities, airlines, screening contractors and other industry partners to provide effective and efficient security screening services while being a critical partner in the recovery of the civil aviation industry, without compromising security effectiveness.
Civil Aviation Industry Recovery: Summer 2023 and Beyond
The organization will continue to increase screening officer capacity. As seen across many labour markets, there are challenges in hiring new screening officers while simultaneously facing the resurgent demand in air travel. Screening contractors will continue to respond to these pressures by recruiting new screening officers.
Collaboration with industry partners
As part of CATSA’s strategy in managing an anticipated high volume of travellers in summer 2023, the organization will apply key lessons learned from spring and summer 2022. One such lesson learned was the value of the heightened information sharing in a timely manner by all industry and government partners; the elevated level of cooperation and information sharing enabled both industry and government partners to more effectively address issues as they arose. CATSA is already well positioned for summer 2023, as it has been participating in real-time data sharing with Transport Canada, airport authorities and carriers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, CATSA and its screening contractors are executing a multi-faceted operational plan to minimize any wait time delays at security screening checkpoints. CATSA has extensively collaborated with Transport Canada in order to continue accelerating the delivery of training to new recruits. As well, the organization is closely engaging with industry partners to ensure staffing efforts are aligned with summer flight schedules and passenger volumes.
Expediting hiring and training
Carrying the experience of spring and summer 2022 forward, CATSA began planning for summer 2023 operations in early fall 2022; this included an assessment of screening officer headcount requirements to meet projected passenger traffic, and the development of recruitment and training plans to facilitate the achievement of those targets. In addition to working with screening contractors to stabilize the front line workforce and manage attrition, CATSA will continue to seek opportunities to further accelerate onboarding of new recruits.
Another important lesson learned from spring and summer 2022 was the greater reliance on pre-certified training officers to supplement the existing compliment of screening officers. The use of pre-certified screening officers will continue in 2023/24, as it provides a solid pipeline of recruits. Pre-certified screening officers can perform non-screening tasks at PBS checkpoints outside of the sterile area. Allowing screening contractors to use pre-certified screening officers in this way helps mitigates the risk to service standards, while also lessening attrition risks as the pre-certified screening officers wait for the completion of their Transportation Security Clearance.
Supporting Government Priorities and Future Projects
CATSA will continue to monitor developments in emerging technologies and undertake evaluations and trials to further strengthen security screening operations. Future key projects to support government priorities as covered in the latest Minister Expectation letter to the Chair, include:
- Improved Service Delivery: Learning from the global COVID-19 pandemic, CATSA will further explore improvements to security screening operations to ensure that passengers are screened at service levels comparable to other leading jurisdictions, with a view to improving passenger throughput particularly during peak periods. The following initiatives will support the Government of Canada’s priority to improve service delivery:
- Strengthening Wait Time Service Levels (WTSL): CATSA will prepare for the implementation of improved WTSL, including during peak periods, in line with approved funding from the Government of Canada. While CATSA expects to be able to implement this initiative at most Class 1 airports using the current checkpoint screening capacity, some checkpoints will require additional screening lines. CATSA will need to work with airport authorities to find solutions to accommodate more screening lines.
- Air Travel Right-Touch and a Verified Traveller Program: CATSA will continue to collaborate with Transport Canada on an Air Right-Touch solution, an initiative aimed at improving the verification of traveller identification at all security checkpoints. As well, the organization is participating in a government-led working group to develop a new risk-based Verified Traveller program. The results of the trials helped inform the policy decisions and the program announcement by the Minister of Transportation in May, 2023. Going forward, CATSA will work closely with Transport Canada on the regulatory changes needed to support the implementation of the program.
- Computed Tomography (CT) X-rays at PBS: CATSA will initiate the full replacement of the current PBS X-rays with CT X-rays in 2023/24. Subject to regulatory change by Transport Canada, the new CT X-ray equipment will help reduce the need for passengers to divest items such as large electronics into the bins, thereby advancing CATSA’s objective to enhance and streamline the customer experience for passengers. It is anticipated that it will take multiple years to replace the existing X-rays at all Class 1 airports.
- FBS Lifecycle Management and FBS Primary: CATSA aims to expand the deployment of new FBS Primary units by 2027/28 at select airports.
- Airport Screening Services Agreements (ASSAs) and a new Maintenance Service Provider Contract: The new ASSAs will be effective in April 2024, and will integrate lessons learned from summer 2022. This is an opportunity to seek improvements and greater accountability in the delivery of screening services while maintaining a cost- effective service. The new screening agreements will advance Government’s priorities, including those concerning official languages, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility. In addition, the organization will continue to work with the existing screening equipment maintenance service provider and the newly awarded provider to maintain a smooth transition.
- Better Accountability and Integration with Other Air Sector Operators: With support from Transport Canada, CATSA will continue to actively engage airport authorities and other key stakeholders to find efficiencies that facilitate a seamless passenger experience.
- CATSA is continuously looking for ways to improve and update its practices, policies and procedures to meet the challenges of today while anticipating the needs of tomorrow. The organization will also work closely with Transport Canada to advance the implementation of digital solutions and technologies, and to explore the use of innovative solutions, including pilot projects in selected airports.
- Aviation Recovery Operations Committee (AROC): CATSA will continue to actively participate in the Transport Canada-led AROC other national working groups in order support the ongoing economic recovery of civil aviation and to effectively address industry-wide bottlenecks and challenges.
- Screening that respects Canada’s diversity and inclusion values: CATSA will expand efforts to promote multiculturalism and care for religious objects and beliefs, and respect for the screening of Indigenous sacred and ceremonial objects. CATSA will continue to prioritize reinforcing inclusive and respectful values throughout the workplace, leveraging the Diversity and Inclusion Network to integrate diversity and inclusion values and practices into all corporate processes. This work includes progress on the organization’s Gender-based Analysis Plus Action Plan, including introducing more gender-neutral and respectful alarm resolution procedures. Following the development of CATSA’s first Accessibility Action Plan, the organization will measure progress on action items and regulatory requirements. In addition, CATSA will continue to address the findings from the Office of the Auditor General report on accessible transportation.
Other Future Projects
- Hold Baggage Screening Equipment Lifecycle Management: As part of its ten-year HBS recapitalization program that was completed in 2021, some of the HBS CT X-rays that were initially deployed are now more than ten years old. CATSA intends to initiate the replacement of this equipment in the coming years. Like the HBS recapitalization program, the replacement of the current HBS CT X-rays will take several years to complete. In 2023/24, CATSA will evaluate new HBS models in advance of issuing a request for proposals from equipment manufactures.
- 100% Non-passenger Screening: Transport Canada has requested that CATSA begin planning for the possible implementation of 100% non-passenger screening (NPS) at checkpoints across Canada. The findings from CATSA’s trials were shared with Transport Canada to help inform future policy decision. In addition to the hiring and training of additional screening officers to meet this new requirement, CATSA will also need to procure additional screening equipment, such as explosive trace detectors, and deploy additional screening lines at some airports. With regards to NPS-V, research in the area of artificial intelligence-guided oversight is expected to continue in 2023/24. CATSA plans to finalize a prototype of this technology at one NPS-V checkpoint to assess its viability.