Page 14 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2013 Online Magazine

FEATURE CARGO SECURITY

Safe and Sound

Cargo security has come under increased scrutiny following the discovery of a printer
cartridge bomb on board a UPS cargo aircraft in October 2010. Since then security
has been scaled up, and has also been upgraded to a much more sophisticated end-
to-end process. But this does not mean that the industry can relax. We still need a
comprehensive, global, system to ensure security and safety for all cargo carried in
aircraft. Here is the current state of play. By Jeremy Torr

ACCORdING TO A VARIETY OF ESTImATES, GACAG’s roadmap lays down a broad
global air cargo traffic will grow anywhere arrangement for roles and responsibilities
from 5% to 6% every year for the next based around universal implementation
20 years or so. Some major hubs – like of a standard e-Air Waybill (e-AWB).
Singapore, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Its proposal is that some 20% of cargo
Dubai – are banking on that figure being should be tracked using e-AWBs by the
on the conservative side, and investing end of 2013 and 100% by 2016. That this
heavily in aviation cargo infrastructure. is a good idea is not without doubt, but
That will see well between 500 and 600 does not take into full consideration
billion revenue tonne kilometres (RTKs) the large amounts of “casual” air
Tony Tyler, DG and CEO, IATA
moving around the world on an annual cargo transported from hundreds if not
basis. That’s a lot of cargo; around 30% thousands of regional airports across the
of the total cargo value shipped (air cargo developing world – witness the booming
tends to be more valuable than marine trade in pirate precious metals, precious
cargo on a dollar-per-tonne basis). And stones and drugs across South America
that’s also a lot of potentially insecure and North Africa. Nonetheless, support
shipments, potential thefts, and more from organisations like the International
basic potential misdeliveries. Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA)
“Air cargo is vital to the global economy, and the Global Shippers Forum should
transporting more than US$5 trillion worth help promote the initiative.
of goods annually, or more than a third Progress so far is moderate; e-AWB
of world trade by value. And for airlines, penetration was 6.8% at the end of 2012.
it accounts for about 12% of industry IATA’s Tyler admits it won’t be easy,
revenues. But, like the rest of the airline but adds that “several airlines which
industry, air cargo is a tough business,” implemented 100% e-AWB policies in
said Tony Tyler, IATA’s DG and CEO, at the their hub markets [have proved] that
World Cargo Symposium in Doha, Qatar. progress is possible”. It will probably not
Tyler emphasised that the industry be straightforward, and stumbling blocks
as a whole needs to make air cargo more include a standardised legal framework
competitive and address the challenges for electronic documentation, something
of safety, security and sustainability as that needs acceptance at parliamentary
key pillars to increased efficiency and levels in some instances. Not a rapid
reliability. According to him, IATA believes process at the best of times.
that many of the current processes are Indeed, Tyler says as much, asserting
both out of date and prone to spotty that: “Air cargo plays a critical role in
adoption. It says that “transitioning to a driving economic growth and development
paperless operating environment is critical [but] this is not always fully appreciated by
to improving air cargo’s competitiveness,” governments. That is why it is essential
and cites the roadmap proposed by the that the supply chain speaks with a single
Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) voice to articulate policies that support its
for all e-freight cargo tracking. success.” Tyler adds that governments
14 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM