According to the Transport Security Administration (TSA), approximately 50,000 tons of cargo is transported aboard all-cargo and passenger airplanes. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act stipulates that all cargo aboard passenger planes should be screened. After the events of September 11, 2001, extensive improvements were made in air cargo security regulation, which focused mainly on cargo aboard passenger airplanes. To ensure the safety of cargo aboard passenger planes, the TSA makes use of shipping companies that have proven to have a secure and reliable system in place.
There are a certain number of security hazards that the TSA counters by having regulations and layered security checks in place. The biggest concern is the presence of combustible or explosive materials aboard passenger planes. There have been numerous cases of cargo theft over the years, which points towards the weaknesses still present in the air cargo security system. Numerous cargo theft rings have been uncovered at major U.S. airports. Most of the cargo crimes take place with the assistance of cargo workers employed by the airports.
The biggest challenge facing the TSA is the screening of all the cargo to prevent transportation of dangerous. It is not possible to screen 100 percent of the cargo at the airports because there is no technology available that can carry out this task. The TSA therefore requires air carriers to have their security arrangements in place that involves pre-screening of the cargo. The TSA has in place a system according to which the shippers of cargo carry out screening at their end. The TSA only allows cargo from qualified shippers to board planes.
After the events of 9/11, airport security was tightened around the world. It also extended to the items passengers were allowed to take on to a plane. The new regulations restricted passenger from carrying liquids, aerosols and gels in containers larger than 3 oz. Medications need to be declared to the security staff before check-in and must be clearly identified by the manufactures label. Failure to declare restricted items before check-in can lead to legal action.
The safety of air cargo is of vital importance for the aviation industry--therefore, it employs the use of various technologies to ensure proper screening. The most common screening system is the X-ray technology, but it is highly dependent upon the efficiency of the operator. Explosive detection systems (EDS) are required to screen at least 450 bags of passenger cargo per hour. The EDS also make use of chemical trace detection screening for carry-on luggage. A potential technology based on neutron beams to detect the nuclear signature of screened materials has been proposed, but is difficult to implement because of serious expenses involved.
All airports around the world have body scanners installed, which passengers have to go through before they can board the plane. But most people don't know that passing through the body scanner is voluntary on the part of the passenger, if a passenger chooses not to go through the scanner, he will be screened with a hand-held metal detector and a pat-down.
