Air Cargo Screening
But while passengers may accept (if not assessing whether cargo poses a threat to released.) Based on the study, Title IV of
embrace) security measures, the same transportation security.” The law requires the fiscal year 2006 appropriations for
cannot be said of the air cargo industry. such screening to “provide a level of DHS directed that $30M be expended to
Cargo carried on passenger flights is security commensurate with the level of conduct three air cargo pilot programmes.
stowed in the same hold and is subjected security for the screening of passenger Of the three pilots, the one coming closest
to the same environmental factors as checked baggage.” to reflecting the recommendations of the
checked baggage. It is therefore only Unfortunately, passing a law is one study has been established at San
logical that aircraft are equally vulnerable thing, implementing it is another, and Francisco International Airport (SFO), and
to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in profound disagreement remains as to will be described below.
either cargo or checked baggage. It is also the feasibility of 100% inspection,
logical that the probabilities of an IED regardless of funding and staffing The Model
eluding security in cargo and in checked levels. On July 30, 2007 the The model developed in the study was
baggage should be commensurate. To do Congressional Research Service based on data acquired either by direct
otherwise is to bolt the front door while published an updated study of Air Cargo observation or surveys of air carrier and
leaving the back door open. However, this Security, which includes the following indirect air carrier representatives at two
does not mean that checked baggage statements (p11): airports: Denver International Airport (DEN)
and air cargo should be subjected to the and Dulles International Airport (IAD). Both
same security measures. Aircraft ...the volume of air cargo handled and were top-20 in terms of cargo shipped, but
vulnerability to an IED may be the same, the distributed nature of the air cargo not at the top of this list. The data acquired
but cargo and checked baggage have system present significant challenges by direct observation included:
very different characteristics, and are for screening and inspecting air cargo. circle6 Commodity type [Standard
processed very differently. Since many experts agree that 100% Classification of Transported Goods
Because of these differences, there has screening of air cargo is not a practical (SCTG) code
been an on-going dispute since 9/11 as to solution with currently available circle6 Total weight
whether the inspection of air cargo is technology... circle6 Number of pieces in shipment
required, or if “screening” using TSA notes that 100% physical circle6 On skid or loose
knowledge-based techniques such as screening of all cargo is not a viable circle6 Number of pieces >80 cm diag.(limit
“Know Shipper” suffices. Section 110(a) alternative as no single technology is for some explosives detection
entitled “Passengers and Property”of the currently available to effectively and systems (EDS)
2001 Aviation and Transportation Security comprehensively screen all air cargo circle6 Priority (limited to high or low)
Act (ATSA) calls for the screening of cargo for various different types of explosives circle6 Domestic or international
carried aboard passenger aircraft, along threats. circle6 Arrival time before flight
with the screening of passengers, their
carry-on and checked baggage. But in Thus, even now, controversy remains The data did not include cargo tendered
Section 110(f) ATSA requires a system “to concerning air cargo security: the law at next-flight-out counters in the
screen, inspect, or otherwise ensure the requires screening (inspection), while terminals. It was presumed that these
security of all air cargo that is to be many experts, both within the air cargo high-risk items would be screened using
transported in all-cargo aircraft.” To this industry and the Government, believe assets in the terminal.
author, the first sub-section implies that this to be infeasible. It is the author’s The model was premised on the following
screening and inspection are belief that insufficient data exist to assumptions:
interchangeable terms, whereas the determine whether or not screening of
second implies that screening and all cargo carried on passenger flights is No silver bullet:
inspection are distinct concepts, opening feasible, or if reasonable compromise is No single screening modality would be
the door to the August 1, 2001 opinion by possible, but it is incumbent on both the effective for all commodities. The choice of
the Transportation Security Administration Government and industry to make a screening modality for a given commodity
(TSA) Chief Counsel that, “Screening is not best-efforts attempt to see if this goal would be determined on the basis of
limited to inspection, but may include a can be achieved. laboratory tests of using realistic IEDs in
variety of methods for evaluating persons representative cargo configurations. Short-
and property.” Based on this opinion, the Background of the Air term development efforts would be initiated to
2003 TSA Air Cargo Strategic Plan (ACSP) Cargo Pilots tailor the performance of a screening modality
specifies that only high-risk air cargo be In 2005, at the behest of Congress, the to a particular commodity; e.g., software
screened (inspected). Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) of would be developed to improve the
Section 1602 of the 2007 Implementing the Department of Homeland Security performance of an EDS for screening
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission (DHS) released a Systems Engineering electronics. For modelling purposes only,
Act, at least in the legal sense, appears to Study of Civil Aviation Security, a major commodities were assigned to one of five
have closed that door, mandating that a focus of which was modelling how (not if) screening modalities: EDS, explosives trace
system be in place within three years of air cargo carried on passenger flights detection systems (ETD), X-ray, canines, and
enactment to screen 100% of air cargo could be screened without seriously physical inspection. Metal detection, which
carried on passenger flights, and specifying disrupting the air cargo system. (The was not included in the model, may also be
that “the term ‘screening’ means a physical study contains Sensitive Security appropriate for certain commodities, and
examination or non-intrusive methods of Information and cannot be publicly should be considered moving forward.
Aviationsecurityinternational December 2007 www.asi-mag.com 9
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