Security

Mission Statement 

To assist policymakers in effectively addressing security issues, in the United States and other countries. Given its membership across the air cargo supply chain and its international focus, TIACA is uniquely positioned to address issues such as international harmonization, security protocols for international cargo, and best practices.

Position Statement

TIACA is committed to initiatives and polices that promote the highest standards of operational security and safety in the worldwide air cargo industry. Security and safety are inherent in the very nature of air transport and have, for many years, been subject to the most stringent international regulation by ICAO and other inter-governmental authorities.

TIACA will actively support measures that are proven to improve airport and air cargo security. New initiatives, however, must be effective, workable, affordable, and create a minimum of disruption to the flow of air cargo that has as its core advantage speed in flight within a consistent context of rapid reliable delivery. If security procedures frustrate and devalue these air cargo characteristics, the large proportion – at least 30% - of international trade that depends on just-in time movement of materials, components and products within integrated global company and associated sub-contracting systems is bound to be disrupted, along with the inter-continental overnight express delivery services that are now an essential business and administrative component of the world economy.   Such interventions will stifle commercial innovation, discourage investment, and lead to unemployment and further economic downturn, thus enabling the very terrorist objectives that security initiatives are aimed at preventing. 

TIACA’s Security Policies, summarized below, aim to stimulate sensible debate and action on this vital issue and set out a path forward that can further improve aviation security and safeguard the future of air cargo at the heart of world trade.

1. Security, as a global requirement, must be threat-based, risk-managed, multilayered and operationally consistent to be effective.
2. Security agencies should understand and make the best use of the resources and expertise which other global trade and transport operators have developed and are constantly enhancing to meet their own exacting commercial and security requirements.
3. Responses to threats should be managed as far as possible to sustain high levels of consistent vigilance and to avoid sudden calls for extreme caution without helpful guidance as to the form of the threat that may be expected. Restrictions and controls should be reasonably and visibly related to the threats they are intended to counter.
4. While sudden, unexpected developments could justify urgent unilateral action, broad security strategy and related legislation should be based on systematic consultation with relevant and responsible business interests. National legislation, which could have significant extra-territorial effects, for example import controls applied at or before export, should provide for consultation, which will include representatives of the wider trade community.
5. Consistently high standards of physical and data security, reflected in compliance records and regular audit results, should secure simplified processing for formally authorized traders, carriers and intermediaries. The aim should be to bring market forces behind control systems. Such arrangements should avoid requirements for fixed periods of previously recorded activity. Associated exclusion from simplified procedures will add unjustifiable extra handicaps to start-up operations, particularly significant among small and medium sized enterprises.
6. TIACA is calling for the coordination and harmonization of security controls on a worldwide basis to avoid the multiplicity of regulations the industry is currently facing.