Centerlines - March 2009 - (Page 10) POLICY CENTER Cargo Screening: A Look at the Transition to 100 Percent A LT HOUGH I T IS the airlines’ responsibility to screen cargo to be transported on board aircraft in compliance with the 9/11 Act mandates, ACI-NA continues to be fully engaged in working with both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Congress to minimize the potential impacts associated with the mandates. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) constituted three working groups under the TSA Aviation Security Advisory Committee to formulate security enhancements for cargo transported by Indirect Air Carriers, all-cargo and passenger airlines. Recognizing the increasing congressional pressure and focus on cargo security, ACI-NA along with other industry as- screening, Congress determined that it was necessary to draft legislation mandating the screening of cargo on passenger aircraft. Out of concern that a near-term cargo screening mandate would strain limited facility space and potentially disrupt airport operations, ACI-NA worked with Congress to identify reasonable implementation timelines. With the enactment of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act, passenger airlines were required to implement 50 percent screening of cargo within 18 months and 100 percent within three years. As a progressive step towards the 50 percent deadline, TSA mandated that passenger airlines screen 100 percent of cargo on narrow-body aircraft beginning in October 2008. As of February, passenger airlines must implement 50 percent ALTHOUGH airlines are reasonably well positioned to meet the 50 percent cargo screening mandate, getting to 100 percent with the limitations associated with the current technology will present a significant challenge. sociations participated and helped to identify 43 recommendations to strengthen cargo security. TSA incorporated the recommended measures into its proposed Air Cargo Security rule. With the focus on other statutory deadlines, TSA did not issue its final Air Cargo Security rule until mid-2006. Unfortunately, with this delay and TSA’s continued development of a freight assessment system to target elevated risk cargo for screening of cargo. Most airlines purchased explosive trace detection technology, which provides a relatively effective, but manpowerintensive means to screen many types of cargo. With the primary focus being on the research and development of equipment to screen passengers and their baggage, research of cargo screening technology has suffered. Therefore, airlines must rely upon technology that has been developed to screen carry-on and checked baggage for screening air cargo. Although airlines are reasonably well positioned to meet the 50 percent cargo screening mandate, getting to 100 percent with the limitations associated with the current technology will present a significant challenge. ACI-NA continues to work with TSA in support of its certified cargo screening program. The program, modeled after similar programs in the United Kingdom and other countries, is designed to enable vetted, audited, and certified entities to screen cargo earlier in the supply chain, well before it reaches the airport. The significant benefit to airports and airlines of a well-developed program is that it will allow high-volume shippers to screen what are typically the largest consolidated cargo shipments at their facilities so airlines don’t have to break down, screen and rebuild the shipments at airports. Given the progress toward meeting the 50 percent 9/11 Act deadline and considering that highly efficient and effective cargo screening technology has yet to be developed, the new administration and Congress may delay the 100 percent cargo screening deadline. ACI-NA will continue to advocate for a risk-based system that minimizes the impacts on airport operations and facilities and for the research and development of cutting edge cargo screening technologies. ■ C H R I S T OP H E R B I D W E L L V I C E P R E S I DE N T, S E C U R I T Y A N D FA C I L I T A T IO N A C I- N A 10 CENTERLINES | MARCH 2009
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