As India’s aviation sector expands at an unprecedented pace, passengers often see only a fraction of what keeps airports secure and efficient.

In his book ‘Above and Beyond’, Shiv Kumar Mohanka, Deputy Inspector General with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), draws from decades of on-ground experience to decode the system, from passenger anxieties to high-stakes security challenges.

Speaking on the sidelines of the book’s launch in Hyderabad, he offers rare insight into the unseen layers of aviation.

What do you hope readers take away from Above and Beyond?

The book is meant for casual travellers, aviation enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. One of its key aims is to reduce passenger anxiety. When people leave home, they are happy, but as they approach the airport, anxiety sets in during check-in, security and immigration. This phase can last 20 to 30 minutes. Once they are through, they relax. I surveyed about 1,500 passengers and identified 262 common concerns, ranging from customs issues and baggage problems to missed connections and medical situations.

The book addresses these in detail to help passengers navigate the system with confidence.

With rising concerns as bomb threats, smuggling and trafficking through airports, how serious are these challenges?

These are global challenges. They are often driven by attempts to evade taxes or to move restricted items like drugs or endangered species. Security is a constant contest between enforcement agencies and those trying to bypass the system.

We also deal with hoax threats very seriously. Every threat is treated as real because complacency can be dangerous. However, repeated hoaxes can strain resources, which is why better technological and intelligence capabilities are needed to identify and act against those responsible quickly.

Having overseen security at major airports, what are the challenges today?

Airports are complex ecosystems with high passenger volumes and multiple layers of activity, including retail, hospitality and entertainment. While this has significantly improved passenger experience, it also adds a layer of complexity for security.

Visible checks account for only about 30–35%; the remaining 65-70% is non-intrusive, involving surveillance, behavioural observation and coordination, starting from the approach road to just before boarding. There is constant communication among agencies, and many cases related to customs and immigration are detected through this layered system.

Indian airports are ahead with modern technology, often surpassing older airports in Europe or America. However, scaling advanced systems requires significant investment. A metal detector may cost a few lakh rupees, while a full-body scanner can be 40–50 times more expensive. Similarly, advanced 3D baggage scanners can cost 10–15 times more than standard X-ray machines.

What drew you into aviation, and how has this transition from industrial to airport security evolved?

The CISF was born out of a crisis, an inferno at the Heavy Engineering Corporation in Ranchi, which highlighted the need to protect the country’s economic infrastructure. Over time, it expanded to secure critical and strategic sectors such as nuclear installations, refineries and power plants.

Our induction into airport security was in 2000s. When I first took charge of an airport, I understood security, but I did not understand aviation. Airports are highly complex, with multiple stakeholders - airlines, operators, air traffic control, immigration and customs - working under different ministries, with high levels of confidentiality. Coordination is a major challenge, as there is no single overarching authority.

I began studying aviation - runways, taxiways and terminal design, and simplifying it for my team. That process gradually drew me deeper into the field.

Your book began as internal notes. When did you realise it could become a full-fledged book?

Initially, I was preparing short notes of about 3-4 pages for my personnel to help them understand airport systems. In those days, I would even send these notes by fax to colleagues at other airports. Over time, these notes kept expanding. Gradually, this collection grew to around 2,500 pages.

By around 2017 or 2018, I realised that this material could be shaped into a book. However, turning notes into a book required significant effort. It took me six to seven years to complete it alongside my professional responsibilities.