Security Issues Facing Air Cargo Industry

Introduction 

Air cargo industry is among the crucial aspects of the transportation industry because it accounts for above 35% of the value of global trade (Merkert & Alexander, 2018). This is approximately $5.1 trillion. Air cargo industry helps in growing the economy for almost all the states throughout the world. Its significance can be seen in its role in promoting business travel for airlines and also plays the role of the leading economic aspect for analysts interested in business and finances (Merkert & Alexander, 2018). The industry has grown to be the most important throughout the world due to its high connection in a global economy that is rapidly growing. However, despite its major significance, the air cargo industry is facing some major security issues (Price & Forrest, 2016). This paper focuses on the security issues that the air cargo industry is experiencing. 

Security Issues in the Air Cargo Industry 

The security issues faced by the air cargo industry are as a result of the growing security problems throughout the world. So some extent, some of the security challenges facing the air cargo industry are related to security issues and worries that are being experienced in the aviation industry (Price & Forrest, 2016). When talking about air cargo security it refers to both planned malicious attacks and issues in handling materials and items that are hazardous. Digital devices can be of some significant help in assisting air cargo providers make sure that security practices are implemented and followed when hazardous goods are transported as well as ensure that security procedures are followed too (Merkert & Alexander, 2018). However, such digital devices do not get rid of the existing security risks when transporting goods that can cause hazard or in operating an airplane during this period of terrorism. 

Although most air cargo is moved in cargo air craft’s, security measures that are related to air cargo are only focused on a 20% of the goods that are moved on passenger flights because of passenger safety issues (Merkert & Alexander, 2018). The increasing levels of threat concerns mean that there is need to pay more attention to ensuring security for air cargo too. Despite concerns on the possible use of air cargo to place an explosive object in a passenger plane, there are no such attacks that have successfully happened in the past. Concerns on such a threat are mainly predicated on the assumption that more strict measures are put into place when it comes to screening passengers and the goods carried and this may make terrorists fear that the chances of an explosive device to be detected are high (Bingham et. al, 2004). 

Responding to these security concerns, the U.S. has shifted its attention from risk founded methods in vetting air cargo that are transported on passenger planes to mandatory 100% and comprehensive physical screening that is required for every air cargo that is moved within or into the U.S. All cargo aircraft has been seen as less attractive to terrorist activities and TSA has been involved in implementing risk related measures. The security concerns in the air cargo industry include hijackings, insider threat and explosives. 

Hijackings 

From a historical point of view, security measures for all cargo aircrafts have paid attention to threats related to hijackings. In particular, the hijackings are those that can lead to a suicide attack by using an airplane as a weapon for causing mass destruction (Price & Forrest, 2016). The ability, likelihood and impact of such an attack was seen in the incident that happened on April 7, 1994, few years before using a hijacked aircraft in attacking the World Trade Center in September 11, 2001. 

In the incident that occurred in 1994, a FedEx engineer who was not on duty tried to hijack a FedEx aircraft and cause it to crash into the company’s headquarters. The hijacker was on board the aircraft while disguised as an individual in need of free transportation. The hijacker’s only luggage was a case used to carry a guitar that concealed items such as mallets, spear gun etc. during that time there were no federal rules or company requirements to conduct screening on individuals or the cargo transported in an air cargo aircraft. Three flight crew members aboard the aircraft thwarted the attempt by the hijacker to take control of the aircraft and successfully landed in Memphis. However, the crew members sustained major injuries that threatened their lives. 

Explosives 

Security issues related to explosives have been a concern for cargo transported in passenger aircraft. There are a number of incidents that prove that terrorists can target air cargo aircrafts including those transported in all-cargo aircrafts. This has been implemented by taking advantage of the existing weaknesses and gaps in air cargo security measures in all-cargo aircrafts (Price & Forrest, 2016). In 2010 for example, it was discovered by U.A.E. and U.K. intelligence that there were explosive devices hidden in goods transported as air cargo to the U.S. The devices were not found after an initial screening was performed. However, they were discovered after another screening was conducted after authorities got a tipoff leaked by an individual belonging to Al Qaeda. 

After examination, it was found that the explosives were made of pentaerythiritol tetranitrate which is a very strong explosive. In addition, it is not easy to detect an explosive of such a kind. The quantities of the explosive were found to be adequate to lead to a catastrophic harm to an aircraft if it were detonated in the course of the flight. This incident caused a rethinking of the assumption that bombings on all-cargo airlines is least attractive to terrorism attacks that a passenger air plane. 

The details gathered from the above explained 2010 incident presented several challenges facing the security of the air cargo industry. First and foremost, the explosive devices were discovered after intelligence agencies received a tip and even after the tip, it was still difficult to detect the explosives. It was reported that the first inspection attempts by authorities in Britain were not able to discover the explosive devices. This brought to light that well-hidden explosive devices can prove difficult to discover with the usual ways that involve physically screening cargo. Secondly, the incident raised concerns about the effectiveness of methods that involved targeting risks. Third, the several international airports and facilities that were transfer points showed the air cargo industry is highly interconnected hence there is need for more collaboration among all the agencies and individuals involved. Finally, the incident proved that it is possible to move explosives hidden in cargo from passenger airlines to all-cargo aircrafts and therefore it may not be easy to treat them separately in relation to security without affecting freight logistics. 

Insider Threat 

Although shippers may be limited in their ability to target a certain aircraft or even tell if a certain cargo will be transported on a passenger airline or on an all-cargo aircraft, individuals working in the industry can exploit their access to information to implement a complicated attack (Burges, 2013). This is the reason as to why the insider threat has received so much attention. There has been increasing concerns on terrorist organizations that can infiltrate the air cargo industry to collect information on existing weaknesses and take advantage of vulnerabilities in the industry (Burges, 2013). 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the air cargo industry has grown to be the most important throughout the world due to its high connection in a global economy that is rapidly growing. However, the industry is facing some major security issues. These ongoing security issues in applying effective air cargo aircrafts security include promoting international collaboration and effectively partnering and overseeing security of the air cargo industry (Moore, 1991). 

Reference 

Bingham, P., Bush, J., Bowerman, B., Cespedes, E., & White, T. (2004). National Security Science and Technology Initiative: Air Cargo Screening, Final Report for CRADA Number NFE-07-01081. Doi: 10.2172/1135815 

Burges, D. (2013). Air Cargo Security.  Cargo Theft, Loss Prevention, and Supply Chain Security, 229-235. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-416007-1.00016-9 

Merkert, R., & Alexander, D. (2018). The air cargo industry.  The Routledge Companion to Air Transport Management, 29-47. Doi: 10.4324/9781315630540-3 

Moore, K. C. (1991). Security Procedures for Air Cargo Handling.  Airport, Aircraft, and Airline Security, 343-353. doi:10.1016/b978-0-7506-9019-5.50028-9 

Price, J. C., & Forrest, J. S. (2016). Air cargo security.  Practical Aviation Security, 437-459. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-804293-9.00010-2