The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) (French: Administration canadienne de la sûreté du transport aérien, or ACSTA) is a Canadian Crown corporation responsible for the security screening at the 89 designated airports in Canada. CATSA reports to the Government of Canada through the Minister of Transport, who is responsible to the Parliament of Canada.
CATSA was officially formed April 1, 2002, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. After September 11, 2001, the Government of Canada took responsibility for airport screening which, until then, was the responsibility of the airlines.
CATSA shares responsibility for civil aviation security with several federal government departments and agencies, air carriers and airport operators. Transport Canada is Canada’s designated national civil aviation security regulator, under the standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
CATSA contracts screening services to private security companies.
Mandate
CATSA conducts screening services in the following four areas:
• Pre-board Screening (PBS), the screening of passengers, their carry-on baggage and their personal belongings;
• Hold Baggage Screening (HBS), the screening of checked baggage;
• Non-Passenger Screening (NPS), the screening of non-passengers (e.g. airport employees, flight crews); and
• Restricted Area Identity Cards (RAIC), the administration of access control to airport restricted areas through biometric identifiers.
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