Airforwarders Called On Congress To Secure Air Cargo

NEWSROOM


Airforwarders Called On Congress To Secure Air Cargo By Daniel Baxter

		November 17, 2010 - The Airforwarders Association on Tuesday called on Congress to work with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement a risk-based assessment program for securing inbound air cargo. International cooperation will be required to improve security, this necessitates a harmonized security program and one that is holistic in including passenger and all-cargo aircraft. Domestically, efforts already underway with TSA and CBP to share data and best practices must continue to achieve meaningful increases in security. ?Airforwarders and others in the air cargo industry are 100% committed to safety and security, but that is the only instance when a percentage is appropriate in any discussion of cargo security,? said Brandon Fried, executive director of the Airforwarders Association.

?We urge Congress to reject additional calls for 100% screening of inbound cargo. Instead, policymakers should enact a risk-based system for global air cargo security, as recommended by the supply chain and our international partners.? To further improve air cargo security, the Airforwarders Association has developed a set of recommendations for consideration by Congress, including: Improving inter-agency cooperation: TSA and CBP are finally collaborating on practices and policies to better streamline the international cargo security system. This must be expanded in both scope and substance, and should also include the Department of State and Department of Commerce. Airport screening should not be considered a first line of defense but instead an effective complement to solutions like CCSP and freight targeting from cargo manifests, already in place for domestic cargo. These should be expanded to the all-cargo universe. Funds for developing technologies for screening, and reviewing existing technology and procedures should be allocated immediately. The EU and other foreign carriers are using pallet screening technologies that the TSA has deemed inadequate streamlining certification for these machines is an imperative first step in harmonization.

For too long, those in the supply chain have been divided by their differences. CCSP brought shippers, passenger carriers and forwarders together and created solutions. The current effort must include all members of the international air cargo supply chain. ?We support the data sharing and dissemination recommendations outlined by TSA and CBP in their testimony today, and have already begun working with the agencies to best implement them,? said Fried.

		?The air freight forwarding industry has worked tirelessly to achieve new screening mandates and has been instrumental in implementing effective security programs for domestic cargo. Our cargo security has never been higher due to these efforts. We will continue to work closely with industry partners and the government to improve security.? The Airforwarders Association, with a full membership of 350 members, was founded in 1990, and today provides advocacy, training, information, and other beneficial services to the air forwarding community. The association works closely with the U.S. Congress, U.S. federal regulatory agencies and administration departments, air carriers, service providers, and other industry-related entities throughout America and abroad. Other News Stories Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners ZA001 And ZA005 To Return To Seattle Airline Employment Down 0.6 Percent Flight Crews And Public Not In Support Of Backscatter Full Body Scanning Funding Committed For New O?Hare South Air Traffic Control Tower Black Hawk Helicopter Takes Historic First Flight In Poland Airbus CEO Joins Parachutists In Jump From A400M SkyTerra 1 Satellite Sends 1st Signals From Space TSA Employees Move Closer To Union Representation Florida Tech And FIT Aviation Pilots Killed In Plane Crash Unique Vacations Fined For Violating DOT Price Advertising Rules FTI Review Panel Report Out On FAA Telecommunications Outage FBI Reports Cargo Theft A Growing Multi Billion Dollar Problem Lockheed Martin Delivers Key GPS III Test Hardware Ahead of Schedule FAA Address Aging Commercial Aircraft In Finalized Rule Bombardier To Participate In Airshow China 2010 Jeppesen Introduces Cessna 172 Aircraft Flight Training Solution UPS Appoints Romaine Seguin As President Of UPS Americas LAN Selects GE To Develop RNP Navigation At Five Airports Colton Harris-Moore Indicted On Aircraft Theft, Flying Without Airman?s Certificate Flight Test Cockpit Fire Encountered On Boeing 787 Dreamliner Airplane Wreckage Of National Park Employees Located Sukoi Bay Bombardier CRJ1000 Regional Jet Receives Two Type Certificates Rolls Royce Receives $1.2 Billion Order From China Eastern Airlines Embraer?s Legacy 650 Jet Meets Long Range Flight Expectations Tarmac Delays Down As A Result Of Tougher Regulations Trade Association On TSA Printer Cartridges Directive On Commercial Flights