Transportation Security Administration

Frontline Solutions, Feb, 2004

The federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require random inspections of all air cargo, and has increased security requirements for foreign cargo carriers to improve air cargo security. In its Air Cargo Strategic Plan, the TSA outlined a plan to further secure air cargo on both passenger planes and all-cargo carriers.

"This plan represents the culmination of 10 months of work and reflects extensive outreach to the air cargo community and cooperation with our federal partners in the Department of Homeland Security," said J.M. Loy, administrator for transportation security. "TSA recognizes that vulnerabilities in air cargo security threaten our entire air transportation system, and if they were exploited, could prove damaging to the national economy and general well-being of our nation."

There will be a more thorough vetting of shippers and indirect air carriers (IACs) applying for the Known Shipper program. The TSA will also develop training programs as part of the standard security programs employed by industry, improve compliance enforcement with more field inspectors and jointly explore the applicability of programs such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), which is managed by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.

The TSA is developing a cargo prescreening system to develop a risk score for shipments that may require further screening. Aircraft operators will be required to randomly inspect cargo on passenger aircraft.

Airport operators and operators of all-cargo aircraft with a maximum gross take-off weight of more than 12,500 pounds will be required to make greater use of commercial history records checks, better screen people with access to the aircraft, randomly screen cargo for stowaways, secure unattended aircraft with better access control and develop a communication and incident response program.

www.tsa.gov