Aviation Soars with Security

Aviation Soars With Security

Automated perimeter detection system

Each year in Oshkosh, Wis., there is a spectacle like none other. It isn’t the Northern Lights but a phenomenon by its own rights and well known in the close-knit aviation community. That’s when the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association, brings the history and the future of the industry together at Wittman Regional Airfield in Oshkosh.

This year’s EAA AirVenture 2011 in July drew close to 550,000 visitors during the seven-day event—members, fans and spectators who came to see daily aviation shows, aerobatics and pyrotechnics, as well as the opening day Fly-In Theater. The event also features forums, workshops and demonstrations, and also attracts top government officials, corporate leaders and international aviation enthusiasts. EAA is an organization of more than 160,000 members focusing on the spirit of flight.

In addition to spectator traffic, there were more than 10,000 aircraft flying into Wittman, landing at what became the busiest airport in the world. Celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation, the show brought together the largest collection of naval aircraft in any single event—including a replica of the Navy’s original N-1 Curtiss Pusher and today’s Boeing F/A-18. “FIFI” the Boeing B-29 was the biggest warbird at AirVenture 2011; the big bomber was flown in by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF).

With such high-level property and a bevy of attendees, the site needed stealth perimeter detection, and the specifier of the solution, Mitchell Christian, owner of Cyber Consulting & Security, also in Oshkosh, opted to go with FutureSentry’s First Responder, an automated perimeter detection system that mimics the actions of a security guard to prevent crime before loss or damage occurs.

Tracking and Deterring

Leveraging leading technology, the solution uses advanced motion detection to automatically identify potentially dangerous targets within 1,000 feet and track objects to deter criminal behavior. Once it detects motion in a user-defined area, the system illuminates activity with a high-intensity LED light and continues to guard the area until no activity is present.

Christian deployed First Responder on a trailer to cover the main viewing area at the show—the ConocoPhillips Plaza, where the Boeing 787 Dreamliner prototype was stationed for a time, as well as other aircraft.

“The planes are, of course, the main attraction,” Christian said. “It was the first time the new Boeing 787 was in the United States, and the B-29 bomber FIFI is the only remaining flying aircraft of its kind.”

Some of the concerns of the show owners were protecting the aircraft from any accidental mishaps or threats of vandalism or damage. Christian used the First Responder’s available alarm output circuitry to wire two analog PTZ surveillance cameras, which were configured to trigger on alarm or alert for CCTV viewing or record for evidence at 30 frames per second.

“It’s totally portable,” said Christian, adding that First Responder lends itself to a variety of applications. “It can run up to three weeks on battery power. I spent about one week doing initial testing, but the specification worked perfectly and the final installation was accomplished in minutes.

“We had no incidents and we had a much easier time with security with the FutureSentry deployed,” he said. “What attracted me to the solution were the lights used on it; they’re a great deterrent, and if you can deter criminals or activity, that’s going to stop a lot of incidents.”

He called the deployment a “major success.” “I’ll be looking at doing more with the system on my trailer in the future,” he said.

This article originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Roland Trayte is the president and COO of Future-Sentry, a manufacturer of outdoor perimeter detection solutions.

Featured

  • The Key to Wellbeing in the Office

    A few years ago, all we saw in the news was the ‘great resignation.’ Now we have another ‘great’ to deal with. According to CBRE, 2023 was the start of the ‘great return’ as office workers returned to their normal offices after working from home. The data shows that two-thirds of all U.S office buildings were more than 90% leased as of Q2 2023. Read Now

  • Failed Cybersecurity Controls Costing U.S. Businesses $30 Billion Yearly

    Panaseer recently released ControlWatch and the Continuous Controls Battle: Panaseer 2025 Security Leaders Report examining the cost of cybersecurity control failures and the impact of growing personal liability for security failings on security leaders. The report analyzes the findings of a survey of 400 security decision makers (SDMs) across the US and UK. It shows that security leaders feel under increasing pressure to provide assurances around cybersecurity, exposing them to greater personal risk – yet many lack the data and resources to accurately report and close cybersecurity gaps. Read Now

  • The Business Case for Video Analytics: Understanding the Real ROI

    For security professionals who may be hesitant to invest in video analytics, now's the time to reconsider. In a newly released Omdia report commissioned by BriefCam (now Milestone Systems), the research firm uncovered a compelling story: more than 85% of North American and European organizations that use video analytics achieve a return on investment within just one year. The study, which surveyed 140 end users across multiple industries, demonstrates that security technology is no longer just for security — it's a cross-organizational tool that delivers measurable business value far beyond traditional safety applications. Read Now

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3