Security set to dominate 2014

Early into 2014, air cargo security arguably looms as the industry’s top discussion topic. The ongoing e-air waybill effort notwithstanding, security seems to be at the top of the minds of most in the industry. Helping keep security at the forefront of industry concerns is a bevy of regulations at various stages of implementation.

Security is certainly an interesting topic for Air Cargo World readers. Our Feb. 10 online article on ACC3, the European Union airfreight safety regulation that goes into effect on July 1, was one of our best-read online articles so far in 2014.

We are following that article up in this issue with a look at the U.S. Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program and how it is influencing its counterparts in the EU and Canada. For a cross-section look at how the industry views the regulations, please turn to p. 20.

Security is also getting considerable agenda time during the annual spring gauntlet of air cargo conferences and exhibitions, which begins with the International Air Transport Association’s World Cargo Symposium March 11-13 in Los Angeles. The ACC3 will get a thorough discussion as the subject of the afternoon plenary session on the opening day of WCS, which is being held for the first time in the U.S. No doubt the WCS Security Track on the morning of March 13 will be well attended.

A few weeks later, security concerns will have a prime docket position during Air Cargo 2014 in Orlando. A program called “Protecting Your Freight—Real World Solutions” kicks off the general session on April 1.

TIACA’s Executive Summit and Annual General Meeting, set for Istanbul on April 24-25, will have a session on Advance Data, which offers an acronym overload with examination of such security plans as ACAS, Europe’s PRECISE (Pre-Departure/Loading Consignment Information for Secure Entry) program and the PACT (Pre Load Air Cargo Targeting) program in Canada.

And, while the CNS Partnership Conference, set for May 4-6 in San Antonio, doesn’t have a dedicated session on this hot topic as of press time, there is little doubt that security will be discussed at some point.

Further evidence of the economic significance placed on airfreight security is the barrage of new product announcements and new installations by air cargo companies. New travel agreements between countries, such as the one signed between Canada and Mexico on Feb. 18, will also likely have security ramifications for airfreight.

As the new security regulations take hold, it behooves everyone in the industry to stay up to date. The spring conferences certainly present plenty of educational opportunities on the topic.