World airlines call for improved cargo-screening

Giovanni Bisignani spoke several days after two explosive devices were discovered, concealed aboard freight being carried by cargo jets, bound for the United States.
Bisignani said the technology for such security equipment already exists, but that it is taking too long to approve it for airport use.

"There is no technology today that governments have certified to screen standard size pallets and large items," Bisignani told the association's regularly scheduled meeting on the security of passenger and cargo planes. "There is some promising technology, but it is taking far too long to move from the laboratory to the airport. We must speed up the process."

U.S. Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole, who also attended the conference, said a delicate balance needs to be struck to ensure that the enhanced security requirements for air freight do not disrupt global trade."The flow of global commerce is key to economic recovery," Pistole said. "Security cannot bring business to a standstill."

He said aviation security was a shared responsibility because the latest events showed that "threats evolve as quickly as we can develop mitigation measures."

Air freight is often transported in containers that generally are not taken apart to inspect because the process would significantly slow down air travel and the movement of goods.

Currently, airports rely on dogs, trace detection, and visual inspections to check most air cargo containers without having to open them. Screening technology to handle large containers, similar to the passenger X-ray machines in general use, is being tested.

Last week, two explosive devices were discovered in Dubai and Britain concealed in freight being carried by cargo jets. Officials have said that without a tip-off from authorities in Saudi Arabia, the bombs may not have been discovered. Both mail bombs were wired to detonators that used cell phone technology.