may2023 - 32

Ground Service Providers
screeners and handlers. Langston
explains the aviation sector represents
the vast majority of the transportation
workers vetted by TSA.
Although airport security programs
are regulated by TSA, there
can be some variation among the airports,
for instance, in how information
is presented.
SIDA Badging at PHX
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
(PHX) described its badging process
online during a virtual session of its 2022
Aviation Business Summit.
" The security badging process is
the most important step you and your
employees will take working at and with
our airport, " says Shawna Larson, former
deputy aviation director of safety,
security and emergency preparedness
programs at PHX, now assistant city
attorney for the City of Phoenix.
At PHX there are about 18,000 badge
holders, who Larson says are the airport's
" eyes and ears each day. "
" 'See Something, Say Something'
responsibilities begin the minute you
and your employees receive your airport
badges, " she says.
Paul Berumen, special projects
administrator, security and airport
security coordinator - regulatory, says
the airport is often asked why a badge
is necessary.
Shortly after the September 11th
terrorist attacks, Congress passed the
Aviation and Transportation Security
Act, creating the TSA and requiring fingerprint
background checks of personnel
that require unescorted access in the
SIDA or sterile area.
" It's a 10-year look back, " Berumen
says, noting Congress also outlined the
criminal offenses that would disqualify
someone from being issued a SIDA badge.
Of the 36 disqualifying crimes, Berumen
says theft (felony) and sale of prohibited
drugs (misdemeanor or felony) are
among the most common.
Last year, TSA implemented the FBI
recurrent criminal history vetting service
known as " Rap Back " to provide near
real-time notification of new, potentially
disqualifying criminal events that enable
TSA and airport and aircraft operators to
revoke an individual's unescorted access.
" That's an additional check in
which all of our badge holders will be in
the FBI criminal history vetting 24/7, "
Berumen says.
The Security Badging Office at PHX
provides its business partners and their
employees with badging and fingerprinting
services. Existing companies who are
enrolling new badge holders or renewing
existing badge holders can use a secure
online system.
New companies will need to visit the
Security Badging Office and complete
New Company Setup application forms.
All companies must have an " authorized
signer " (AS) or point of contact
between the badging office and the company's
employees or job applicants.
Berumen outlines several keys to
success while working with the badging
office. They include having a dedicated
authorized signer (not someone assigned
the responsibility as an additional duty),
who is knowledgeable about the process,
active and engaged with the airport and
their company, and in regular communication
with badge holders.
" We ask that you educate the applicants
or your personnel on what to
expect when they come to the badging
office, " he says.
Kamila Kisova, aviation supervisor III
at PHX, says the process starts with the
AS submitting an electronic application
to the badging office.
" It is very important that authorized
signers pre-enroll or renew applicants
and then advise the applicant or badge
holder to schedule an appointment to
come into the badging office, " she says.
To keep the process going smoothly,
she says authorized signers should be
sure to enter accurate data.
At the appointment, which takes
about 15 minutes, the badging office will
verify information - including ID, authorization
to work, and that the applicant
has read and understood the application
forms and has no disqualifying crimes;
scan documents; take fingerprints and
collect payment. Once these things are
done, a temporary badge will be issued
for 30 days, which allows the applicant to
begin working while escorted by someone
with escort privileges.
After badging office submits paperwork
to the FBI and TSA, Kisova says
background checks typically take 7 to 10
business days.
Once the applicant's background is
cleared, training videos are sent to the
applicant. The non-secure training online
is followed by in-person security training
at the badging office, which takes 1.5
to 2 hours.
Applicants have 30 days from the
notification date to complete all training
and have a badge printed. Airline-sponsored
applicants are notified of this clearance
through the airline.
Once all the steps are completed, the
airport can issue a SIDA badge.
" Our business practices and fees may
At Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport, the
credential center is located in
the Employee Services Center.
32 || Ground Support Worldwide || May 2023
be different, but airports that issue SIDA
badges have the same TSA regulatory
requirement, " says PHX public
information manager Tamra Ingersoll.
SEATTLE-TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
PORT OF SEATTLE
PORT OF SEATTLE
may2023

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