Air cargo security depends on risk-based approach: Brandon Fried
Fried urges alignment of intl standards for security as AfA members work with TSA on co-ordinated approach to screening
(Right to left) Howard Stone, Vice President, Global Programmes, UPS Corporate Aviation Security, Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association, Ilan Biton, Consultant, Enabling Insight, James Lobello, Head of Security - The Americas, Lufthansa and Chair, IATA Cargo Security Working Group and Darren Hart, Deputy Director, Data Strategies, Capabilities and Oversight and Detection Services Portfolio, U.K. Border Force
The global air cargo industry must align its security programmes and push for a more risk-based approach to screening if it is to maintain secure supply chains, Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (AfA), told delegates of IATA’s air cargo security panel at its World Cargo Symposium.
“We must present a united front for the global transport industry despite our sometimes disparate goals across the various segments of the supply chain to streamline regulations in order to help foster cost-effective trade.
“The more we align, the simpler our lives will become but we need to continue to push for this alignment – that’s why AfA engages with other associations as well as global regulators at every opportunity to make sure our voice is heard.”
Fried highlighted the discord between global aviation security programmes citing IATA's recently implemented Preloading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) programme in the EU, which mirrors the U.S. Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) programme.
With regulatory demands set to increase over the next five years, Fried said he expects to see increasing focus on tackling cybersecurity issues as well as greater emphasis on employee background checks and more stringent minimum standards.
Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (AfA)
Despite these expected increases in regulation, Fried said AfA will continue to push for a more risk-based approach to air cargo security. “Our industry has done a great job over the past 15 years since putting the 9/11 Commission Act in place, which has led to a ‘shorter leash’ regarding inspection, compliance, and enforcement but we must continue to meet these high expectations to avoid facing greater challenges. We hope to see new and better screening technology approved such as advanced CT X-ray, as well as the wider use of canines as an efficient and effective cargo screening method.”
As the regulatory landscape changes, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be focusing on compliance more than ever and AfA is working collaboratively with them towards enhancements in this area, Fried added.
“AfA members are currently working with TSA on a roadmap for security, and a key part of our efforts is to map the air cargo supply chain to help the untrained and inexperienced regulatory policy makers to fully understand all the nuances of our seemingly simple but quite complicated industry. We are pushing to better align all U.S. cargo security programmes, and encouraging the TSA to help promote the Certified Cargo Screening Programme (CCSP) within the shipper community.”
