4 Ways of Protecting Air Cargo
The air cargo supply chain grows rapidly, with thousands of consumer and business products delivered per trip by air freight. Because of air freight service, many people and organizations receive the goods they need for everyday life. Also, many different industries, including business-to-business (B2B) companies have grown internationally despite so many challenges.
Air freight services take certain steps and measures to ensure that their cargo is protected during the transportation process and that each item will reach its destination safe and sound. Here are some of these measures:
Creating and Implementing Strict Air Cargo Security Protocols
One of the most critical air cargo supply chain elements is security. The industry, regulators, and organizations are working together to ensure the smooth flow of commerce and secure the complex air cargo supply chain.
The air cargo industry has a complex distribution network that links product manufacturers and shippers to air freight forwarders. B2B companies offering high-volume products to companies need fast-paced air cargo freight to meet demands. Most items shipped by aircraft consist of high-value commodities such as machine parts, manufacturing equipment, electronic components, jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and perishable goods. These items are also time-sensitive, and air freight is the fastest way to go.
The most common air cargo security threats include theft, hijackings, explosives, and insider threats. Insider threats involve workers in the air cargo industry who use their knowledge and access to carry out a more targeted attack.
Air freight services do their best to comply with air cargo security protocols, which include the following:
- Thorough Employee Checks: Implementing enhanced vetting capabilities via more detailed periodic reviews of potential ties between air cargo employees to terrorism and other criminal activities for enhanced threat detection.
- Use Of Canine Units: Air freight companies use canine units to detect explosives in air cargo.
- Air Cargo Security Technology: Air cargo security measures are set in place to protect air cargo from theft and secure against drugs and bombs. These include maintenance of screening technology and perimeter security measures.
Cargo Screening Technologies
Freight services are crucial in e-Commerce. So, it’s paramount to have screening technologies set in place for heightened security. Imaging systems are usually used in border crossings and seaports to check multimodal containers and entire trucks. These systems use different x-ray backscatter, gamma-ray, and millimeter-wave imaging technology.
However, these systems aren’t suitable in the air cargo industry because of intensive human observation required to detect potential air cargo threats. Moreover, these systems don’t offer assisted or automated threat detection capabilities.
Neutron beam technologies can be a potential solution with its automated explosives detection capabilities. A pulsed fast neutron analysis scanner can automatically screen bulk cargo and large containers for hazardous chemicals, explosives, radiological materials, and nuclear materials. Such technology is highly suitable for screening high-volume B2B goods.
K-9 Air Cargo Security
Cargo deliveries are typically rushed before the flight cutoff window, making it more difficult to put shipments through a scanner, so many airlines use K-9 screening.
Dogs are in demand in the air logistics sector for many reasons, including the following:
- Cost-Effective: Many air freight service providers and airlines opt to use trained canines to check for bombs because they’re cost-effective. Canine cargo security is cheaper than imaging technology.
- Quick Compliance: Canine air cargo security is the fastest method to comply with transport providers and exporters slow in preparing because of procrastination and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- Convenient: Many airlines opted to use K-9 screening because the long, flat and narrow warehouses in airports are not suited for X-ray machines. Dragging pallets in several dock doors to reach the imaging equipment can significantly hinder throughput.
Passenger Aircraft Screening
Inspection and physical screening of all cargo on passenger aircraft help prevent theft. Some of the acceptable air cargo screening methods used nowadays include physical searchers, x-ray systems, explosives trace detection, explosives detection systems, canine teams.
Other relevant measures to prevent air cargo theft include the following:
- Thoroughly screening prospective employees
- Leveraging technology such as security seals, locks, and equipment tracking
- Incorporating surveillance into the security guard duties and guards patrolling away from perimeters
- Carefully choosing transport partners and intermediaries
- Providing security training within organizations
- Periodically conducting security audits
With the help of technology, air cargo screening detects security threats. The security systems set in place ensure product quality and the safety of everyone aboard an aircraft. K-9 screening helps detect explosives. On the other hand, physical searches and imaging systems detect air cargo passenger theft. Due diligence, education, and technological innovation will help the air freight industry promote the highest air cargo security.
