Air Cargo Screening
United Airlines Cargo Pilot (SFO)
2 CTX-900’s
5 ETD Stations
Footprint ~5,500 sq ft
Figure 1: Three-dimensional illustration of
the Quatrotec-designed system
Break-bulk screening: diversity of cargo types, sizes and Cargo Acceptance:
Because no screening modality exists, or priorities, the airport-to-airport variation The model did not address the issue of
was deemed likely to emerge in the short of commodities shipped, and the where in the process cargo was accepted
term, to screen built-up cargo in ULDs (unit multiplicity of modalities that will be by the air carrier.
load devices, also known as cargo required for screening, the cargo
containers) or on “cookie sheets,” all cargo handling capabilities required for Results of the Model and
was assumed to be screened on a break- centralised screening for explosives Recommendations
bulk basis. Physical inspection, using ETD must necessarily be complex. As is the Based on a notional technology-vs.-technology
sampling and/or TSA-approved canines, if case for checked baggage handling matrix and the actual cargo loads, cargo
available, was to be employed for very large systems, each airport will require a arrival times, and flight schedules at IAD (the
cargo items. system configured to its needs. And, larger of the two airports studied), the model
again as in the case of checked generated the following requirements for a
Screen before build-up: baggage, the cost of the handling single screening facility that would process
While IACs (indirect air carriers, also known system may significantly exceed the cost approximately 2/3 of all cargo carried on
as freight forwarders or consolidators) of the screening hardware. It was passenger flights:
consolidate cargo on air bills, in general air estimated that a dedicated handling
carriers physically build up the cargo. system would be required for airports box4 2 EDS (max. number of items in
(Several large IACs at LAX were an handling >10M lbs/yr – approximately queue: 331)
exception.) In the model, build-up refers to 42 U.S. airports. box4 2 ETD (max. number of items in
skids, cookie sheets and ULDs packed for queue: 187)
loading directly onto wide-body aircraft. It Time Allowed for Screening: box4 12 physical inspection stations (max.
does not apply to pieces stacked on skids Post-9/11, passengers have adjusted to number of items in queue: 469)
for convenience. These were to be allowing extra time for screening for box4 4 truck docks for arriving cargo (max.
screened as break-bulk. weapons and explosives. It was anticipated truck wait time: 9 minutes)
that similar adjustments would be made by box4 max. number of items in sortation
Centralised screening: IACs. Accordingly, IACs representatives area (before queuing): 291
In order to efficiently utilise multiple- were asked how much earlier they could box4 26 cargo handlers to cover unloading,
modality screening resources and deliver their cargo to allow for screening. staging, and reloading
manpower, cargo screening was to be Some said no allowance for screening was box4 7 full-time & 10 part-time screeners
performed at a centralised facility, acceptable. Many more said one or two
preferably (although not necessarily) hours, or even a day. For the model a time The systems engineering study reached
with access to the AOA. Because of the allowance of one hour was established. the following general conclusions:
10 December 2007 Aviationsecurityinternational
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