As one of the busiest airports in the United States, Arizona international airport faces the immense challenge of balancing continuous operation and site security, in keeping with its moniker “America’s Friendliest Airport.”
The airport is so busy that on February 13, 2023, it marked a milestone of over 200,000 daily passenger volume, according to a recent press release from the airport management.
HVM solution
The Federal Aviation Administration also noted that in 2022 alone, the airport had a total passenger volume of over 44 million, an average daily passenger volume of over 120,000, managed over 418,000 aircraft, and handled over 420,000 tons of cargo.
For several years, the airport relied on a hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) solution and an access control system to manage the flow of vehicular traffic into its terminals, as well as ensure the security of passengers, airport staff, and airline personnel.
Challenges
Environmental factors such as extreme temperatures caused wear and tear on the existing perimeter security solution
Over time, environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, sand, and dirt caused wear and tear on the existing perimeter security solution, making it unreliable and expensive with frequent maintenance.
Seeking to reduce costs, the airport called on its maintenance partner, Phoenix Fence, a top fencing and gate automation company in Arizona, to help them find a new perimeter security solution to replace the underperforming one.
Requirements for a new solution
The requirements provided to Phoenix Fence outlined a few key considerations in choosing a new solution:
- Considering its average daily passenger volume of over 120,000, the perimeter security solution needed to safely enable authorised employees to come and go while simultaneously preventing unauthorised vehicles from entering the property.
- Key assets such as fuel and electrical lines run underground to service aircraft, so perimeter security equipment must be installed without digging too deep into the ground and possibly damaging an asset.
- Eliminate underground hydraulic lines and reduce installation costs.
- The new solution required mitigation of environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, windblown sand, and debris. The solution should also reduce or eliminate continued cleaning and maintenance to avoid operational failure.
Vehicle access control solution
Having extensive knowledge of solution providers in the perimeter security industry, Phoenix Fence approached Nice | HySecurity to provide a highly reliable vehicle access control solution.
Since the 1960s, HySecurity has been manufacturing perimeter security products that are proven to be ultra-reliable after installation and can operate at full capacity with minimal maintenance for decades.
Comprehensive and safety considerations
Phoenix Fence and HySecurity teams pitched a comprehensive solution, highlighting product comparisons
Wanting to ensure the airport’s security while preventing the flaws evident in the airport’s current solution, the HySecurity team consulted with an aviation supervisor.
In a joint presentation, Phoenix Fence and HySecurity teams pitched a comprehensive solution, highlighting its safety requirements, product comparisons with installation site references, and a proposed installation plan with loop layouts and foundation requirements.
28 StrongArm® M50 gate operators
The presentation convinced the airport management that the HySecurity solution would be the perfect fit for the airport’s requirements.
The airport installed a total of 28 StrongArm® M50 gate operators to secure the entire perimeter. The StrongArm® M50 was chosen because it exceeded the requirements set forth by the client:
- An ASTM F2656-07 M50 rating to reliably secure active runways from breaches in the perimeter.
- Uncompromising safety features such as high visibility lights, stop-and-go traffic signals, and unique dual-arm design provide superior passenger protection in case of an accidental strike.
- An above-ground design with no underground hydraulics, and minimal maintenance requirements that consistently perform in variable conditions such as extreme temperature ranges, sand or dirt in the environment, and power outages.
- A full 90-degree open with quick arm speed enables convenient access to even the largest of supply vehicles.
Results
This was the cleanest project of this size we’ve ever been a part of [and] the maintenance is a night and day difference"
Despite the unique challenges presented by the site and the requirements outlined by the airport management, the Phoenix Fence and HySecurity teams were able to deliver what the client needed.
Remarking on the project completion, Paul Mastin of Phoenix Fence said, “This was the cleanest project of this size we’ve ever been a part of [and] the maintenance is a night and day difference.”
Balanced site security and operations
Currently, the airport hasn’t had any serious or life-threatening security breaches that halted daily operations. It has generated over $100 million in revenue annually without the concern or cost of frequent perimeter security maintenance.
The airport is a testament that with the right perimeter security solution, one can balance site security and operations even in the busiest of airports.
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