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REMINDER: TSA 100% Cargo Screening on Passenger Aircraft
As an important industry reminder, August 2010 is the deadline for the 100 percent cargo screening mandate implemented by the TSA for all passenger aircraft.
According to the mandate, cargo not screened in accor-
dance with TSA-approved processes and procedures cannot be uplifted by a passenger aircraft in the United States.
The Certified Cargo Screening Program continues to certify facilities across the country. As of June 10, 2010, the TSA has certified 737 facilities in 34 states. These facilities represent traditional freight forwarders as well as museums, perishable shippers, pharmaceutical companies and facilities from an array of other diverse industries.
Information on this program is available by contacting the TSA at CCSP@dhs.gov or AIT at compliance@aitworldwide.com.
The following is a timeline on the cargo screening regulation:
| August 2007 |
TSA passed the 9/11 Act, mandating 100 percent screening on all passenger aircraft in the U.S. |
| October 2008 |
TSA issued an amendment to the air carrier screening programs requiring 100 percent screening of cargo transported on all narrow bodied passenger aircraft. This segment represents over 95 percent of the flights in the U.S. and protects over 85 percent of passengers. |
| February 2009 |
The cargo industry implemented 50 percent screening requirements for all outbound air cargo moving on passenger aircraft from U.S. airports. |
| May 2010 |
TSA issued an updated amendment to require air carriers to screen at 75%. |
| August 2010 |
100 percent of screening must be achieved for all cargo moving on all passenger aircraft to include all wide body service. |
What has the TSA done to reach 100 percent screening thresholds?
The TSA has taken the following measures in its multi-layered approach to air cargo security:
- Development of the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) and Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCFS) for cargo screening.
- 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 requiring 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 the TSA.
- Implemented more stringent validation and screening requirements on high-risk shipments.
What has AIT done to comply with screening thresholds?
- Key locations are designated as a Certified Cargo Screening Facility (CCSF) to aid the TSA in their objective to achieve 100 percent cargo screening. This voluntary program eliminates a 3rd party from screening their cargo and allows bulk configurations that will not be broken down, unless subject to random screening.
- Analysis is ongoing for additional CCSF's within AIT's network.
- On-site X-Ray Machine, ETD (Explosives Trace Detection) and physical search as well as TSA canines when required.
- Multi-tier cargo screening, C-TPAT, TSA and TAPA security training for employee based on the job functions.
- Frequent security audits by TSA, FAA and US Customs in addition to facility evaluations and vendor audits performed by AIT in order to ensure cargo compliance.
- AIT works closely with passenger air carriers when developing cargo screening programs and complies with all TSA regulations.
For more information on the cargo screening mandate, please visit the following link of Frequently Asked Questions on the TSA website:
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/tsnm/air_cargo/faqs.shtm
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