Challenges and changes Faced with an ever-evolving terrorist threat, the air cargo industry is working hard to ensure it stays


one step ahead of the game – and one of the keys to achieving that is collaboration, whether between the links in the supply chain or with regulators that recognise the value of the sector’s input


O


ne of the topics under discussion at the Air Cargo Handling Confer- ence that took place in Paris last month (June) was how the air freight industry can ensure the secu-


rity of the supply chain. Myles Nichols, managing director global


cargo operations at US-based carrier Delta Cargo, summed up: “This is a complex prob- lem; the supply chain is vast with lots of vulnerabilities. “The industry wants simple rules but the


problem is not conducive to that – even if we use the best technology available today, we can’t


guarantee complete security so we have to have a layered approach and encourage our staff to be vigilant.” Nichols is confident that procedures are get-


ting better, but feels that there are still ways to improve. “It’s not easily distilled into a few sim- ple steps; different markets have different threats that regulations don’t always cover, so sometimes we have to introduce extra proce- dures,” he pointed out. According to Ross Marino, divisional vice


president at dnata, the handler is the last con- trol and has huge responsibility – but he remarked that it is difficult to recover the costs


of investing in the required technologies. He warned: “At some point,


one cuts corners when not cov- ering one’s costs; the industry needs to look at how the costs of security are managed – should it be on a contractual basis? And how should it be regulated?” Marino went on: “There is


pressure on us to provide an essential service, but it’s almost become a commercial negotia- tion between the handler and the airline when in fact we are protecting national security.” P Balasubramanian, manager cargo global


operations at Emirates SkyCargo, also com- mented on the handler’s role, asking: “Why is the onus of security and safety on the handler, the last point in the chain? It should be at the origin. The authorities keep pushing responsi- bility down the chain; sometimes we catch the bull by the tail.” But Nichols asserted: “The TSA (US Trans-


portation Security Administration) and CBP (US Customs and Border Protection) have


come a long way in the last three or four years – there are industry forums talking to both agen- cies on the impact of regulations and how to implement them. Education – explaining how the supply chain works – is a big part of that. TSA and CBP are very open to listening so we can develop rational procedures and codify the best way to implement the requirements. “Our biggest challenge is over-complexity of


implementation, which means people either don’t implement or they implement incorrect- ly. However sophisticated the requirements, we need simple execution,” he emphasised.


TIACA calls for more mutual recognition deals


The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) is calling for more governments to recognise each other’s air cargo security regimes, describing recent agreements between the US, the Euro- pean Union and Switzerland, and between the US and Canada, as “welcomed and sensible progress”. TIACA chairman Michael


Steen stated: “We strongly support efforts to enhance security of the air cargo sup- ply chain without unduly disrupting vital commercial flows. “TIACA will continue to support additional efforts to mutually recognise security regimes


and to implement global, har- monised standards,” he added. Doug Brittin, director, air


cargo at the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said: “We are moving steadily toward closing all gaps. What we have put in place – a risk- based,


intelligence-driven


TSA’s Brittin notes “risk-based, intelligence-driven approach”


approach applying tiered screening protocols – could not have been accomplished without working through the numerous details with indus- try partnership.” The TSA is currently pilot-


ing its Air Cargo Advance Screening programme, which


now includes express, passenger and cargo carriers as well as freight forwarders.


Miami International airport confident of the next step


Chris Mangos, director - marketing division at Miami-Dade Aviation Department, says the 100 percent freighter screening mandate that is due to come in on 3 December “is merely the next step in the freight screening process”. He stated: “I think all who form part of the


air cargo logistics chain have been fully aware of what was coming. We adjusted quickly and effectively with the last mandate for screening, and are about two years from that last imple- mentation without fallout or failure, so I believe that the next step should go rather smoothly.”


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16 July 2012


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