DHS Announce New Air Cargo Security Rules

On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced new rules aimed at preventing terrorists from shipping bombs on passenger or cargo planes. This follows last month’s discovery of a plot originating in Yemen to send bombs in packages shipped to the US.

The new rules also affect items deemed high-risk that are shipped on cargo planes and such cargo will now go through additional screening before it is loaded. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has declined to define “high-risk” cargo, other than to say it isn’t limited to that shipped from countries that have been linked to terrorist activity.

“We have a delicate balance to strike,” TSA Administrator John S. Pistole said after the bomb plot was discovered. “The flow of global commerce is key to economic recovery. Security cannot bring business to a standstill.”

International cargo now accounts for more than 61 percent of the airport’s total freight work. Every day, millions of tons of packages fly into the United States. Last Year, Dulles International Airport handled roughly 141,000 tons of domestic and foreign cargo ranking it 19th among airports nationwide.

Responsibility for keeping cargo bomb-free falls principally to the airlines, though the TSA sets the standards and monitors operations. All packages are screened before they are put on board both domestic and inbound international passenger flights from high-interest countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. For inbound international cargo planes, detailed manifests must be filed on takeoff for planes flying within the Americas, and four hours in advance of arrival for those coming from overseas.
Homeland Security Department Secretary Janet Napolitano said that her agency is working with the airline industry on a plan for handing over cargo manifests more quickly so authorities could scrutinize a plane’s contents more closely.

A spokesman for UPS said they anticipated “more substantive discussions between the DHS and the industry.” Maury Lane, a FedEx spokesman, said that his company supports the government’s security measures. “We have extensive measures in place and we are always enhancing our capabilities.”
LaserShip, as a TSA-Certified Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) received instructions and guidance from Department of Homeland Security that is governed under CFR 49 and considered Sensitive Security Information (SSI).

Said Joseph Jarvis, VP of LaserShip’s Global Critical Deliveries group:

“These new instructions have been thoroughly reviewed for immediate implementation by our Security Coordinator as outlined in our security program as filed with the TSA. As always, LaserShip continues to provide outreach and educational programs to its Global Critical Delivery customers providing updates on the substance and impact of the new rules.”