International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general and chief executive officer Tony Tyler has criticised validation programmes saying they will not enhance aviation security.
Speaking last week at his association’s AVSEC World 2014 conference in Washington (US) about the threats to security as well as the rising demand for connectivity and commerce, Tyler says a global standard needs to be adopted for carrier validation. He told his audience that the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) SAFE Framework approach is more effective than the European Union’s (EU) air cargo mail carrier operating into the EU from a third country airport security regulation, also known as ACC3, which came into force from 1 July. The EU’s ACC3 regulation prevents the import into the EU of any airfreight from a non-validated or recognised third country. An air carrier’s designation only continues to be valid upon successful completion of an EU aviation security validation performed by an independent validator accredited by an EU member state. Only validated carriers are authorised to fly cargo or mail into Europe. IATA provides training for independent validators.
The SAFE Framework was adopted by WCO in June 2005. The SAFE procedures are in use with about 100 WCO member states. In his speech, Tyler says: “Let me be clear on cargo security in relation to ACC3. Security across the globe is not going to be enhanced through more validation programmes. Mutual recognition of sovereign states’ own cargo security programmes such as US/Canada, EU/US, US/Israel, and the US national cargo security programme are the cornerstones of the future.”
Tyler does not want regulators to proliferate validation regimes. He adds: “While nobody can argue with the general principles, we would prefer a multi-lateral risk-based approach.” The US, EU and Canada have implemented advance data pilot trials in cooperation with airlines. The US government’s air cargo advance screening programme has been extended for a further year into 2015. This involves scanning cargo ahead of arrival in the US and sending that data to US authorities. Work is underway to adopt these US procedures into SAFE by June 2015 with a rollout to follow.
