The Association of European Airlines, whose members carry 6 million tonnes of cargo annually in addition to their 350-million passenger head-count, has commended recent initiatives by the Belgian Presidency of the EU and the EU Commission to enhance cargo security. The recent ‘printer cartridge’ explosive devices found in Dubai and the UK have pointed to a diversification of terrorist operations into air cargo, which is an essential element of international trade.
As with passenger carriage, air cargo security was stepped-up following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, but the processes for passenger and cargo transportation differ. The perception that air cargo may have been neglected is not an accurate one; both the EU and the US have introduced important enhancements in recent years. Nevertheless, threats evolve and countermeasures too have to evolve to deal with them. What is true of both passenger and cargo security is that they cannot simply rely on technology; also information and intelligence, anticipation, and communication should, ideally, deter as well as prevent attacks.
“We have seen recent threats to both passenger and cargo aircraft fail or be foiled”, said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, “but they have nonetheless highlighted vulnerabilities in the system, notably in the processing and sharing of vital information. Whilst there is always a need for constantly-improving technology, further improvements to the exchange of intelligence between nations must now be promoted”.
Mr Schulte-Strathaus applauded recent initiatives both in Europe and in the US to give a higher profile to internationally harmonised procedures and more effective information sharing. “Knee-jerk security has given us armoured cockpit doors, liquids and gels in plastic bags, the removal of belts and shoes – and yet a hi-tech component travels half-way from Yemen to a synagogue in Chicago before someone asks ‘why?’”, said the AEA Secretary General.
