“GSO trained” appears in every aviation security tender in the country, and almost nobody outside the industry knows what it means. It means nineteen modules, two days in a classroom, a theory exam and a practical assessment — before an operative works a single post.
What GSO is
General Security Operative is the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s baseline qualification for anyone performing an aviation security function airside. It sits on top of Department for Transport Level 1 training, and it is not optional: at Pyrex, every member of staff completes the GSO induction course before engaging in any security role at all.
Two days, hour by hour
Day one runs from the threat to aviation, through the international and national objectives of aviation security and the legislation behind them, into response to security incidents and communication. Day two covers escorting employment and visitor passholders, access control and airport security, and then a theory exam before results and dispersal.
The full timetable is published on our training page. We publish it because a two-day programme with a named module at every half-hour is a harder thing to fake than the phrase “fully trained staff”.
Nineteen modules
The module register runs from the threat to aviation and the trainee’s role, through access control, preparing people for security, and the recognition of prohibited articles, firearms, explosives, incendiary devices and dangerous goods.
It then covers the equipment: screening baggage using X-ray including EDS and CT, threat image projection, explosive trace detection, liquids testing, walk-through and hand-held metal detectors, security scanners, and shoe explosive detection. And the search disciplines: searching people, baggage and items carried, patrolling and searching, vehicles, airport supplies, hold baggage and in-flight supplies. It closes with holding a resolution conversation — the part of the job that is about people rather than equipment.
And then every year, for ever
Recurrent training is a mandatory UK CAA requirement and runs every twelve months. Ours is a third of the initial course each time, so that after three instalments the whole syllabus has been refreshed and repeated — plus a summary of any aviation security incidents since the last instalment and the lessons taken from them, and any new material mandated by the DfT.
Why we still do it in a room
With the single exception of our X-Ray 6×6 package, every Pyrex course is classroom delivered. Computer-based training is cheaper and it scales, and for this subject we think the personal interaction and mentoring of an instructor in the room outweighs that. An operative who has been questioned by a trainer performs differently from one who has clicked through slides.
