Air cargo security measures defended
November 1st 2010 The Freight Transport Association has defended air cargo security measures in the wake of Friday’s discovery of a plastic explosives-based bomb on a cargo plane bound for the USA at East Midlands airport.
FTA’s head of Global Supply Chain Policy, Christopher Snelling, said: “Logistics companies operate complex and stringent security measures for all air cargo. These measures have been developed in close partnership with security authorities in all countries. These are intelligent measures which constantly evolve to meet threats as they emerge and are anticipated.
“The air cargo industry has obviously been aware for many years of the potential for terrorists to attempt to use or attack freight-only flights, and has worked assiduously with law enforcement and security agencies to provide a security regime that will prevent this from happening. Of necessity this all happens away from the public gaze.
“The industry will, as always, work with the authorities to determine what lessons can be learned for the future of aviation security.”
A review of air security in the round is expected to be unveiled by the Prime Minister after a meeting of the Government's emergency planning committee, COBRA, today.
This is likely to involve developing solutions for finding hard-to-detect plastic explosives, and placing more emphasis than present on checking air cargo, perhaps by moving resources from passenger focused security measures.
Goods moved by air freight account for less than one per cent of UK international trade by weight but 25 per cent when measured by value.
Air freight underpins the competitiveness of key UK industries such as technology, business services and pharmaceuticals.
Although some air cargo flies on specialist aircraft, the bulk travels on passenger flights.
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