Aviation, airfreight and supply chain sectors focus on security strategies for Transport Security Expo

Tranport Security Expo and Conference  focuses on public transportation security withstanding acts of terrorism

The security of airfreight, whether carried on passenger or cargo flights, has been brought into sharp focus with the discovery Friday of two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in cargo destined for the United States of America.

One of the devices was discovered in the cargo facility at East Midlands Airport and the other at Dubai International. Both of them were being transshipped from the Yemen, with the latter having already been carried on two passenger flights before it was discovered.

The significance of the discoveries cannot been understated. Both were of sophisticated construction, exceptionally well concealed, contained enough of the high explosive PETN to blow up an in-flight airliner, were connected to mobile phone units and were viable.

The device discovered at East Midlands Airport had reportedly been assessed and cleared, until information received from Dubai prompted a fresh assessment, at which point it was discovered and found to be live.

The implications sent shock waves reverberating throughout the airline, airport, airfreight and supply chain sectors. Many fear the possibility of draconian new security measures being rapidly rolled out and warn of unilateral knee jerk measures being imposed rather than the enforcement of carefully considered multilateral solutions.

Security of this global air and ground transportation network, has long been the subject of significant debate at Transport Security Expo. This event gathers the world's leading experts together annually, to discuss the the primary issues concerning the individual industry sectors and help define solutions to them.

Recent debate in this forum has focused on differing regulatory requirements governing airfreight, the pressing need for globally harmonised screening standards, the inherent complexities involved in delivering effective security controls and the ongoing issue of how effectively secure belly hold cargo carried on passenger flights.

Recent debate has focused on the inherent complexities involved in delivering effective security controls

Qatar Airways, the airline which carried the IED discovered in Dubai, has stated that typical x-ray and sniffer dog screening could not have identified it given its level of sophistication. Dubai authorities have confirmed that it was extremely well concealed and designed to evade most security controls.

Earlier this year, the United States enacted regulation requiring 100 per cent screening of all belly-hold cargo reaching its shores. The regulation demands the use of high technology screening systems, which has prompted a transatlantic dispute with the European Union. At issue is the impact the regulation has on just-in-time transshipments from within Europe and the airfreight passing through. The argument is still ongoing.

Given the severity of these two most recent incidents, it is clear that new regulation will be forthcoming in terms of belly-hold and all cargo transshipment of mail and goods. How this will impact airlines, airports, airfreight operators and the supply chain, is presently unknown but will be hotly debated for months to come.

Band-aid answers may emerge soon, but real-world solutions are unlikely to appear any time soon.