Airforwarders call for alignment of air cargo security

THE Airforwarders Association is urging US President Barack Obama to acquire international to align air cargo security programmes around the principle of risk management.

It is believed that harmonising supply chain security measures would ensure the smooth flow of trade and boost economic growth.

"Now is the time to form an international working group to develop realistic, risk-based and multilayered solutions to air cargo security," the Airforwarders Association said, reported American Shipper. "Calling for the screening of every box and parcel might initially appear effective, but only diverts focus, time, money and resources from more meaningful solutions. We don't need more time and money wasted on 'security theatre.'"

In the meanwhile, Scotland Yard said the makeshift bomb found in the cargo hold of a UPS 747-400 aircraft at East Midlands Airport would have exploded over the eastern seaboard of the United States, had it not been detected, according to news reports. British police said the bomb was defused less than three hours before it was set to explode.

British officials said they were not immediately able to identify a bomb in the package removed from the plane, based on a tip from Saudi Arabian intelligence. Sniffer dogs and explosives detection equipment missed the plastic explosive, prompting authorities to allow the UPS plane to proceed to Philadelphia, according to the New York Times.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for delivering the package bomb and one that was found at a FedEx facility in Dubai.

The US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have rejected al Qaida's claim that it caused the September crash of a UPS plane after takeoff from Dubai. A US official also said that there was no evidence so far that the September 3 crash involved terrorism, according to news reports.
(Source:www.schednet.com)