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Cargo
X-ray:
bigger and
Nuctech’s new port X-ray installation in Slovenia
better
Once regarded as an impossibility, cargo screening is now widespread.
Jeff Price looks at the X-ray based technologies, how they have
improved and their potential for further deployment to safeguard
palletised air cargo.
n 1979, the notorious Ted Kaczynski time freight community is dependent on • Physical Search (including
I
placed a bomb in the cargo hold of the rapid shipment of air cargo, and opening and inspecting all
an American Airlines jet. The bomb emerging economic export giants such inner cartons)
failed to detonate properly, but did as China are also reliant upon a safe, • X-Ray equipment
begin smoking. The flight crew secure and free-flowing airfreight system. • Explosive trace detection or
promptly landed the jet with only The U.S. Transportation Security explosive detection systems (or
minor injuries to some passengers. The Administration through the Implementing future certified technologies)
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Recommendations of the 9/11 • K-9
tagged Kaczynski with the nickname, Commission Act of 2007 mandates the
Unabomber, based on the acronym 100% screening of all cargo, at the piece EC 2320/2002 will also accept as
UNABOMB, short for “University and level, being carried on a passenger screened, items that have been
Airline Bomber.” aircraft by August of 2010. The air carrier subjected to simulation chambers.
While there have been very few attacks and freight forwarder industries are In 2008, the United States and the EU
on airliners via the cargo supply chain, expected to bear the costs of these reached an agreement on air cargo
we know that criminals and terrorists requirements and be able to provide a screening standards for passenger
continuously adapt their modus operandi level of security that is commensurate to aircraft. With billions of items of air cargo
to new security measures, which that of screened passenger baggage. on the move every day, technology is the
indicates that, as other avenues of attack Piece level cargo is the individual item only realistic means the industry has of
become more difficult to carry out, air within a shipment as identified by the achieving the new security screening
cargo may be utilised as a means of shipper’s documentation. standards. Inspection products need to
bombing an airliner in the future. The European Union introduced an meet high detection requirements across
Air cargo consists of goods or property amendment EC 831/2006, to the a broad spectrum of commodities and
transported by air. According to existing regulation EC 2320/2002 to packaging while being reliable and
numerous studies, approximately one improve security requirements for air offering high rates of throughput.
third of the world’s cargo is moved in the cargo. Both the U.S. TSA and the EU Several screening operational models
belly of a passenger airliner – it’s a multi- will accept cargo that has been are being tested, but it is likely that both
billion dollar industry. The entire just-in- screened by: break bulk and pallet screening will
36 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting
www.asi-mag.com August 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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