TSA Takes Significant Steps to Strengthen Air Cargo Security
Air Cargo
TSA has mandated new security measures for all air cargo transported on passenger aircraft. These significant steps will:
- Ensure that no freight is exempt from the robust layered security regime and the potential for random screening.
- Implement requirements that significantly increase the amount of cargo being screened.
- Institute another layer of security by establishing screening requirements for indirect air carriers.
- Impose new security screening measures on certain shipment types that are higher risk.
- Strengthen the industry-managed "Known Shipper Program."
What has TSA done since the Final Report on 9/11 Commission Recommendations was issued?
Air cargo security is a critical element of TSA's security program. TSA currently has more than 375 certified explosive detection canine teams. These teams have been deployed at 75 of our nation's airports, with 25% of their time being spent on air cargo related duties. TSA Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are also screening a significant amount of cargo. Federal Security Directors at more than 250 airports have been using TSOs to screen cargo tendered within the airport terminal as well as at other airport locations. TSA is working closely with DHS's Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) were they are pursuing a robust R&D program focused on emerging technologies that may eventually be effective across the full range of air cargo commodities and against all threats. In parallel, TSA is working diligently to optimise the use of existing baggage screening technologies such as Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) in the air cargo environment.
The Fiscal Year 2006 Operations and Inspections appropriation for air cargo security is $55 million - which funds personnel costs for 300 dedicated cargo inspectors and operational programs such as Known Shipper Management System, Indirect Air Carrier Management System, and Freight Assessment System. Another $30 million of FY06 funds were appropriated to DHS Science & Technology for research and development programs to identify new and improved methods of screening cargo.
What has TSA done recently in air cargo?
TSA has:
- Tripled the amount of cargo required for inspection.
- Tripled the amount of cargo inspectors in the field enforcing these requirements.
- Dramatically increased the amount of random unpredictable screening regimes conducted on air cargo, while we required that all shipments must be made available for that inspection. For example: there are more than 391 canine teams at 80 airports nationwide.
- Mandated that all counter-to-counter flight specific packages be screened by TSA.
- Implemented more stringent validation and screening requirements on high-risk shipments.
- Mandated TSA screening of all cargo at 250 small commercial airports.
Why might my package not look like it has been inspected?
TSA uses multiple layers of security to ensure all cargo transported on passenger and all cargo aircraft meets the standards set forth in TSA-approved security programs. The agency then requires use of current technologies like EDS, ETD, canine teams or physical inspections to screen cargo transported on passenger aircraft. Some of these technologies will not make a physical impact on your package.
Does domestic cargo get treated the same as cargo coming into the United States from abroad?
Yes. Domestic cargo is treated with the same layers of security as cargo entering the United States. It is important to keep in mind that there are two primary threats to air cargo:
- Explosives in cargo on a passenger plane
- Terrorist stowaway on cargo plane intent on using the plane as a weapon. TSA's strategy involves every component of the air cargo shipping system -- freight consolidators, air carriers, and the people that have access to cargo at every link in the supply chain.
What percentage of all air cargo is currently transported on passenger planes?
Approximately 25 percent (13,000 tons each day) of all air cargo is transported on passenger airplanes.
Are passengers safe when air cargo is on their passenger plane?
Yes. All air cargo transported on passenger planes will be screened or submitted to robust, layered security measures. Air cargo transported on passenger aircraft is initially pre-screened through the TSA Known Shipper program prior to departure. At low volume airports (approximately 270 nation-wide) 100 percent of cargo shipped on passenger planes undergoes electronic screening.
Larger airports have additional layers of security including canines and on-site TSA cargo inspectors. These random and unpredictable layers ensure that packages are screened in a variety of ways, preventing terrorists from trying to exploit any one aspect of the system. All air cargo shipped via passenger aircraft undergoes additional screening measures beyond the Known Shipper program including physical, canine or electronic inspection.
What is a "Known Shipper"?
A Known Shipper is a company that meets TSA's criteria. The air carrier collects pertinent information from the shipper, and once the carrier has ensured the shipper has met the specific regulatory requirements, that shipper is considered "known" to the carrier.
Later this year TSA will shift to an automated Known Shipper Management System that will use commercial databases to verify the legitimacy of shippers. TSA has 300 dedicated cargo inspectors, supplemented by more than 650 additional inspectors, who ensure compliance with known shipper and other cargo security requirements on a daily basis.
Why does TSA not physically screen 100 percent of all air cargo?
100 percent physical inspection of all cargo shipped on both passenger and cargo planes is not a viable alternative. There is no single technology currently available that can effectively screen 100 percent of the six billion pounds of cargo shipped annually (2004) within the United States on passenger aircraft. It would require multiple technologies -- many different machines -- to handle all types and sizes of commodities as well as the different types of explosive threats.
How much money is TSA spending on air cargo security?
The Fiscal Year 2006 Operations and Inspections appropriation for air cargo security is $55 million - which funds operational programs such as Known Shipper Management System, Indirect Air Carrier Management System, and Freight Assessment System and personnel costs for 300 dedicated cargo inspectors.
Another $30 million of FY06 funds were appropriated to DHS Science & Technology for research and development programs to identify new and improved methods of screening cargo.
What about air cargo coming into the United States from other countries?
TSA works very closely with our international partners to ensure that air cargo placed on airplanes bound for U.S. from other countries, including cargo loaded on passenger aircraft, meet U.S. and international security standards. In ongoing discussions and reviews with these international partners, TSA shares information and best practices, and also ensure that they comply with security measures.
As part of our ongoing review of security procedures worldwide, TSA routinely sends security experts to airports throughout the world. Most recently, TSA staff visited the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Australia.
TSA has raised our security baseline and we want to continue to ensure that other countries' cargo security programs meet the same high standards. Coordinated and harmonized efforts with our international partners and members of the business community contribute significantly to the many layers of security TSA has built into our overall aviation security program.
