Gatwick Airport has had an upgrade of its AC2000 access control and security management system, from CEM Systems. CEM report that the Sussex airport is a long standing customer. The project was phased throughout 2014 and involved an upgrade of AC2000 Airport software, plus the upgrade of more than 700 card readers across the airport terminals to support PicoPass smart cards. CEM’s intelligent access terminal, emerald, has also been installed at Gatwick, that goes beyond access control according to the product company, part of the Security Products business unit of Tyco.
David Rees, Business System Manager for Operations, said: “Over the last year we have worked with CEM Systems to seamlessly upgrade our existing AC2000 security system, which has proven to be highly reliable and powerful. As a large system with more than 80,000 card holders and due to the critical nature of the airport environment we needed a phased upgrade that ensured zero system downtime. CEM support was second to none with the AC2000 Airport software upgrade performed remotely and quickly.”
And Philip Verner, Regional Sales Director, EMEA, CEM Systems, said: “CEM Systems has been working in partnership with Gatwick Airport for over 25 years, during which time their AC2000 security management system has been continually upgraded and customized to meet their unique aviation requirements. This recent upgrade was a significant project that required all existing CEM S610e card readers to be upgraded to support highly secure PicoPass smart card technology. We are also delighted that our new CEM emerald IP access terminals have been installed to enhance operations at Gatwick Airport’s arrival gates and to act as an information point for ID staff and flight agents.”
Claimed to be the first of its kind in the industry, emerald is a touch screen reader, door controller, VoIP Intercom and system terminal in a single box. The touch screen LCD greets card-holders by illuminating as they approach. Described as an intelligent multi-functional IP access terminal, emerald provides Gatwick with more than access control at the door, it’s claimed. Airport security staff can use remote apps on the terminal to update personnel records, perform reader maintenance and show airport adverts and messages.
Gatwick is also using the emerald flight arrivals door mode, which enables flight arrival gates in the North and South Terminal to route domestic and international passengers accordingly. Upon a valid card swipe, flight agents intuitively select a predefined flight carrier number on the emerald terminal. emerald then interlocks the appropriate doors to allow international passengers to be routed to passport and border controls, with domestic passengers simply routed to baggage collection. London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport to Heathrow, serving around 200 destinations in 90 countries, with more than 38 million passengers a year.
