Airport crew access is entering a new phase. This summer, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is replacing its long-standing Known Crewmember program with the Crewmember Access Point (CMAP). CMAP will utilize facial comparison technology to verify pilots, flight attendants, and other qualified crew members prior to their entry into airport-secured areas.
Why Biometrics Strengthen Airport Crew Identity Verification
In the past, pre-screened crew members utilized their carrier issued I.D. and bar code through the Known Crewmember program. Now, using current crew member information provided by airlines, TSA will take a live photo of the crew member at the access point and compare it to a federal image record.
The transition from a traditional barcode or identification card to a biometric process demonstrates a broader trend toward enhanced security processes. While a barcode or identification card can confirm that someone possesses a certain credential, biometrics add an additional level of security that confirms the individual is indeed the authorized party.
Airport Crew Access Enters the Biometric Era with TSA CMAP
Participation in CMAP is currently voluntary; however, those who opt out of participation will have to undergo the same screening as all passengers. Additionally, even participating crew members could potentially be directed to pass through normal security procedures based upon failed matches or random screening selections.
For TSA, this represents an opportunity to expand its role as both an identity verifier and a cybersecurity stakeholder within the nation’s air transportation system. Within the identity management industry, CMAP presents yet another instance where high-security organizations such as airports are transitioning away from standalone systems that rely solely on trusted data and established credentialing and toward interconnected systems that leverage trusted data, previous credential validation, and real-time verifications.