The International Air Cargo Association

Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) confirms Task Force leaders and objectives

The Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) has completed the formation of four Task Forces to focus on security, e-commerce, customs and trade facilitation, and sustainability of the global air cargo industry.

Each Task Force will be responsible for addressing GACAG’s objectives – based on representation from all aspects of the air cargo supply chain and customers – and to present recommendations to the Group’s Steering Committee. 

The intention to create GACAG was first announced in November 2010 by its four founding members; FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF). In March 2011, the Group’s newly-formed Steering Committee formally signed the Basic Principles of the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group. 

Michael Steen, Chairman of GACAG, said: “With the formation of these Task Forces we are getting down to business in beginning to focus on the priority areas we first identified in March of this year. Each GACAG member has committed high level resources to the Task Forces and we are confident this combined expertise, knowledge and talent will enable us to identify and develop ways to improve the air cargo supply chain for all participants. Each Task Force will now commence exploring its subject matter in detail and will also consult with other experts in each specific field to increase their level of understanding. The GACAG Steering Committee will act on the recommendations proposed by the Task Forces.”      

The chairs of the four Task Forces are:  

SECURITY

• Frederic Leger, Head, Cargo Business Process & Standards, IATA 

E-COMMERCE

• William (Bill) Gottlieb, Past President, FIATA 

CUSTOMS AND TRADE FACILITATION

• Sue Presti, Senior Director of Government Affairs, TIACA 

SUSTAINABILITY OF THE GLOBAL AIR CARGO INDUSTRY

• Chris Welsh, Secretary General, GSF

The Task Forces have also identified their objectives: 

SECURITY

• Advance electronic information process and timelines to improve aviation security risk assessment 
• Consignment security declaration process and layout to provide aviation security regulators with an audit trail of who secured what, how and when 
• Supply chain security program guidelines to introduce supply chain security in countries where there is none
• Ad hoc supply chain security issues, as they develop and require actions by the GACAG 

E-COMMERCE

• E-Commerce facilitation in the booking and movement of air cargo 
• E-Commerce facilitation of an electronic air waybill for issuance by either carrier or agent 
• Electronic air cargo track and trace 
• Ad hoc air cargo e-commerce issues  

CUSTOMS & TRADE FACILITATION

• Customs modernization 
• Customs automation 
• Customs advance data collection and targeting 
• Ongoing customs initiatives within the World Customs Organization 
• The World Trade Organization’s negotiations on trade facilitation
• Ad hoc air cargo customs and trade facilitation issues 

SUSTAINABILITY OF THE GLOBAL AIR CARGO INDUSTRY

• Environmental issues, including ATM modernization, noise and carbon emissions/sustainable biofuels 
• The significance of the air cargo industry to global commerce 
• The future of the air cargo industry
• Ad hoc air cargo sustainability issues