Need Help?
IATA's Security Management System (SeMS) addresses a risk-based and data-driven approach, indispensable to aviation security. The SeMS Manual and the SeMS Competency Test are essential SeMS tools, designed to improve open-source based intelligence gathering and the Incident Data eXchange (IDX).
New!
- The Latest SeMS Manual is now available featuring the most up to date guidance.
- To assist in structuring the reporting of security incidents, you can now use this security report form template.
- Developed with the industry, this harmonized security taxonomy (pdf) will facilitate a security culture through active security reporting. The taxonomy is also embedded in IDX.
- Check out how IATA contributes in ICAO's Year of Security Culture (YOSC) with video campaigns and news articles.
Need Help?
SeMS Key Information
At the inaugural SeMS Workshop, hosted by IATA in Madrid, 9-10 November 2022, it was generally agreed to generate an agnostic/generic SeMS information for wider use and dissemination. The SeMS Key Information (pdf) iclude also other potentially useful links.
As a follow-up of the inaugural SeMS Workshop (2022), IATA organizes a Security Forum on 25-26 October 2023 for further spreading SeMS concepts within the aviation community
SeMS Competency Test
The SeMS Competency Test is offered as a harmonized method of assessing the SeMS expertise of individuals assigned with security responsibilities. It is an industry benchmark to assess someone's SeMS proficiency level through a standardized, objective and transparent validation method.
The results of this assessment could be used for qualifications check during recruitment; quality control; or to design an individual professional development plan. It can also help to professionalize SeMS related positions by linking the assessment results with job-roles (SeMS/security managers, security supervisors, auditors, instructors).
Security Incident Reporting Initiation & Awareness
ICAO AVSEC Panel and ICAO Council encourage States, and all stakeholders to rapidly update the national requirements of security training programs to include incident reporting processes. To assist with this rapid implementation, IATA launched the See It Report It initiative. Contact us if you would like to become an early adopter.
The initiative includes videos on awareness and reporting. Both are available in 13 languages.
Awareness Videos: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Melayu, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese
Reporting Videos: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Melayu, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese
Embedding security into the business
IATA has demonstrated the value of SeMS through its IOSA Program for more than a decade. SeMS contributes to the capability of airlines to manage security in an ever-changing reality. The latest edition of the IATA SeMS Manual aims to provide a natural security approach evolution including risk assessment to be adopted by all aviation stakeholders. IATA encourages all actors to recognize the value-added of implementing SeMS in a manner tailored to individual needs.
Building a security culture
Focusing on the human factor, SeMS reinforces the security culture. A security culture should be promoted through a 'lead by example' approach and formulated through the company's Security Policy to get the buy-in of the frontline staff.
Good awareness, training, and information exchange is indispensable. To structure data collection, IATA promotes a security occurrences’ taxonomy, embedded in The Incident Data Exchange (IDX), also used in multiple IATA publications including the IATA SeMS Manual, Airport Handling Manual, and the IOSA Standards Manual (SEC 4.3.3).