100% air cargo screening
Focus on Senate field hearing
Senator Market of Massachusettes
held a field hearing
focusing on the TSA’s implementation
of the 100 percent
scanning and screening mandate
titled “Promoting Safe
Skies through Scanning and
Screening: Oversight of Air
Cargo Security”
Testimony was heard from
many aviation professionals
including Brandon Fried of
the Air Forwarders Association.
The hearing focused the
TSA’s 100 percent scanning
and screening mandate for all
air cargo transported on passenger
aircraft, as well as passenger
and baggage screening
systems, the danger that
drones flying near airports
pose to airplanes, and the cybersecurity
of the nation’s increasingly
computerized aviation
system.
When Congress passed the
Implementing Recommendations
of the 9/11 Commission
Act of 2007, Senator Markey
overcame industry opposition
14 AIRPORT VOICE, MARCH 2020
and secured language that required
the TSA establish a system
to screen 100 percent of all
air cargo transported on passenger
aircraft by 2010. The
law additionally detailed the
types of technologies and procedures
that would provide
sufficient security, including
x-ray systems, explosives detection
systems, explosives
trace detection, explosives detection
canine teams, physical
searches, and any other system
the TSA later certified.
To understand point of
view from the aviation community,
Air Forwarders Association
Executive Director
Brandon Fried was called as
a witness and shared his expert
opinion on Air Cargo Security
during the hearing. He
provided the freight forwarders
perspective on air cargo
oversight by the TSA, especially
regarding the Indirect
Air Carrier Program.
He outlined the progress
and benefits of the Certified
Cargo Screening Program,
which has served a successful
cornerstone for air cargo
screening for almost 10 years,
demonstrating a supply chain
solution to a significant security
challenge. He also highlighted
industry-supported
initiatives such as Third-Party
Canine Program (3PK9), citing
the tremendous impact they
have on cargo screening efficiency.
Brandon’s testimony
underscored how non-governmental
screening programs
have proven to be a critical element
in effective global air
cargo security, and clearly
stated what action is needed to
support these initiatives in the
future including: new technology,
increased communication
and access to resources, and
updated and clarified regulations
to ensure consistent interpretation
and implementation
industry-wide.
“The Air Forwarders Association
appreciates the opportunity
to have been invited to
share our views on air cargo
security and specifically our
perspective on the Certified
Cargo Screening Program.
The initiative plays a vital
role in enlisting the supply
chain to successfully solve the
screening challenge. The forwarding
community looks forward
to working with the TSA
in improving its internal communications
and urges Congress
to adequately fund the
agency to meet the demands
required to keep the aviation
secure.”
He added, “Following the
witness testimony today, we
hope that TSA will continue to
certify more modern screening
technology, and prioritize
alleviating confusion caused
by inconsistencies in its own
policy interpretations. Security
deteriorates when operators
do not have a clear understanding
of regulations due to
inconsistencies and with increased
clarity and communication,
this is a risk factor
we can reduce together. We
urge Congress to maintain
adequate funding of TSA, so
the agency may continue its
support for air cargo security,
and further development of
critical security solutions.”
Overall, the TSA, the air
cargo industry, airlines, security
experts, consumer
groups, flight attendants, and
pilots all support the Certified
Cargo Screening Program
and testified that Senator
Markey’s 100 scanning
mandate has successfully
enhanced aviation security
through a commercially and
logistically viable system.
The current challenges for air
cargo screening transported
on passenger aircraft revolve
around how to improve the
program at the margins and
keep it up to date with advancing
security technologies.
“Prior to law, almost all
of the air cargo that we load
onto passenger planes was
not scanned for liquid, plastic,
or conventional explosives,”
said Senator Markey. “It was
a glaring loophole in our aviation
security system just waiting
to be exploited, and I am
proud to have closed it. But
vigilance must be our watchword
on aviation security. I
will continue to fight to increase
the use of scanners in
both air cargo and passenger
baggage security.