Continue supporting industry recovery
CATSA will continue to work diligently 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 industry.
The organization’s priority focus will continue to be security effectiveness while increasing screening officer capacity. As seen across many labour markets, there are prolonged challenges in hiring new screening officers while simultaneously facing the resurgent demand in air travel at certain airports. Screening contractors will continue to respond to these pressures by recruiting new screening officers. In addition to facilitating training for new screening officers, CATSA will review the National Training and Certification Program to explore options for segmented or modular training, which will enable the organization to onboard new screening officers more expeditiously.
Future projects
CATSA will continue to monitor developments in emerging technologies and conduct evaluations and trials to enhance screening operations. With the protracted impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the civil aviation industry, CATSA will improve cleaning effectiveness at airports with the automated disinfection of bins on CATSA Plus lines. Moreover, CATSA will strengthen the integrity of its service delivery through investments in such areas as cyber security. Future key priorities include:
> CT X-rays at PBS:
In the coming years, CATSA will undertake the replacement of the current PBS X-rays with CT X-rays that will improve security effectiveness and detection capabilities, while also reducing the need for passengers to divest items such as large electronics, there by advancing CATSA’s objective to enhance the customer experience. To prepare for this major initiative, CATSA will be conducting a trial of a PBS CT X-ray on a CATSA Plus line in spring 2022 and plans to incorporate findings from the trial into the procurement process.
> FBS Replacement:
Starting in 2022/23, CATSA will undertake the replacement of the current fleet of FBS units with new equipment that will strengthen detection and processing capabilities. With improvements in reducing false alarm rates with AI algorithms, it is anticipated that the newer FBS units will also contribute to improvements in the customer experience.
> Airport Security Screening Agreements and Maintenance Services Provider Contract:
CATSA has begun preparing for the Request for Proposal for the Airport Security Screening Agreements. The new agreements will be in place by 2024. In addition, the organization has undertaken the necessary planning work for the next Maintenance Services Provider contract, which is expected to be successfully completed by the end of fiscal 2022/23.
> Boarding Pass Security System (BPSS):
CATSA’s BPSS enables electronic scanning of boarding passes at PBS checkpoints to ensure their validity and to detect duplicate passes. BPSS is used to monitor passenger volumes, calculate wait times, and facilitate security incident resolution. It is instrumental for decision-making and the management of CATSA’s operations. As such, CATSA plans to deploy BPSS at Hamilton and Abbottsford international airports in 2022/23.
> Strengthening the CATSA Workforce:
The past fiscal year has provided the opportunity for CATSA to further reflect on the tools for a productively engaged and enriched workforce in a post-pandemic labour market. Action will be taken to continue to focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and mental health support and resources. Fiscal year 2022/23 will also mark the beginning of CATSA’s flexible workplace journey, as the organization evolves to meet the changing needs of its workforce.