In times of heightened security, aircraft locks can be problematic. “The standard locks on many aircraft are surprisingly easy to open with only a similarly shaped key. Most operators want something more secure,” said Jim Jetton, president of Aircraft Security & Alert Systems, manufacturer of a line of custom-designed Medeco locks for aircraft. The company recently obtained FAA PMA approval for a locking system for the Phenom series that includes up to nine individual panel and door locks. The new locks are custom engineered for each application as a direct replacement and always align vertically when in the locked position so that pilots can tell at a glance that all doors and panels are locked properly. According to the company, Medeco locks are virtually impossible to pick, drill through or to pry off an aircraft. While standard locks are built of pot metal that will easily bend or break under force, Medeco locks are made of hardened steel and feature two sets of tumblers instead of the conventional one set. Keys are bi-directionally cut and duplicates can be produced only by the company for the documented owner of an aircraft.