Aviation Security: Progress Made But Actions Needed to Address Challenges in Meeting the Air Cargo Screening Mandate

Abstract

I appreciate the opportunity to participate in today's hearing to discuss air cargo screening. In 2008, about 7.3 billion pounds of cargo was transported on U.S. passenger flights- approximately 58 percent of which was transported domestically (domestic cargo) and 42 percent of which was transported on flights arriving in the United States from a foreign location (inbound cargo).1 The 2009 Christmas Day plot to detonate an explosive device during an international flight bound for Detroit provided a vivid reminder that terrorists continue to view passenger aircraft as attractive targets. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the security threat posed by terrorists introducing explosive devices in air cargo shipments is significant, and the risk and likelihood of such an attack directed at passenger aircraft is high.2 To help enhance the security of air cargo, the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Commission Act) mandated the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a system to physically screen 50 percent of cargo on passenger aircraft- including the domestic and inbound flights of foreign and U.S. passenger operations- by February 2009, and 100 percent of such cargo by August 2010.3 The 9/11 Commission Act defines screening for purposes of the air cargo screening mandate as a physical examination or nonintrusive methods of assessing whether cargo poses a threat to transportation security.4 The act also requires that such a system provide a level of security commensurate with the level of security for the screening of checked baggage.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 30, 2010
Accession Number
AD1179131

Entities

People

  • Barbara A Cheng
  • David K. Hooper
  • Linda S Miller
  • Rebecca K Taylor
  • Richard B Hung
  • Stanley J. Kostyla
  • Stephen M. Lord
  • Steve D. Morris
  • Tina Cheng
  • Yanina G Samuels

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Aircrafts
  • Cargo
  • Cargo Handling
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Containers
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Detection
  • Domestic
  • Electronic Mail
  • Explosive Devices
  • Explosives
  • Explosives Detection
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Passenger Aircraft
  • Passengers
  • Security
  • Supply Chain
  • Transport Aircraft
  • Unit Load Device
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management
  • Cybersecurity.
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.