Redline Assured Security has been selected by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to undertake the certification and quality assurance (QA) of free running explosive detection dogs (FREDDs) within the UK.
FREDDs are, at present, used in the air cargo sector and are specially trained to act as part of cargo screening methods to check air cargo and freight for a variety of explosive materials and potential threats. Their use is expected to expand to wider areas of aviation security in the future.
FREDDs offers a capability to screen large volumes of air cargo. Each FREDD undergoes rigorous training to achieve stringent government certification before being eligible for deployment in the cargo sheds. Throughout their operational duties they go through a regular quality assurance programme.
Redline will, for the first two years, certify and quality assure existing FREDD providers and others looking to enter the market as the availability and use of FREDDs increases. The contract was awarded after regulatory responsibility transferred from the Department for Transportation to the CAA, with Redline assuming responsibility from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory who have provided certification and QA services to date.