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Secure Crew

OPC received a presentation by Priva Technologies on Secure Crew, a technology-driven methodology for easing the passage of airline crew through security checkpoints.

IATA in conjunction with Priva will roll out a demonstration project on crew screening in the first quarter of 2010. Airlines are invited to volunteer to take part in the trials.

One-stop Security at the OPC

One-Stop Security is the concept of not re-screening connecting passengers if they have been adequately screened at departure. This requires states to recognize the equivalence of each other’s security measures. Industry savings are estimated at US $1.6 billion for full global one-stop security in the long-term.

IATA meets with US Department of Homeland Security Chief

In September Giovanni Bisignani, IATA CEO and Director General met with Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security. He raised concerns regarding DHS’s pandemic planning, particularly DHS’s lack of planning on mild or moderate pandemic outbreaks. He urged the Secretary to ensure that DHS’s aviation pandemic planning is consistent with WHO and IATA standards.

He also told Secretary Napolitano that carriers would not be able to meet the August 2010 deadline for 100% cargo screening, in part because TSA had not certified the new inspection equipment. Supply chain security needed to be done right and failure was not an option – extending the deadline would allow manufacturers, shippers and airlines to work towards success.

The Secretary acknowledged that the deadline was unrealistic and promised to communicate that to the Congress. She also instructed her staff to identify ways to reduce or eliminate current regulatory overlaps between the TSA and Customs and Border Protection.

US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

The US Department of Agriculture (DoA) published an interim final rule on 28 September, announcing an increase in Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) fees for both passenger and aircraft inspections from 1 October.

DoA's publication gives carriers insufficient time to make the necessary changes to their systems. In addition, IATA believes that DoA inappropriately used the Interim Final Rule process by permitting the Department to bypass the opportunity for the industry to comment.

Through effective lobbying by IATA, ATA and the air carriers operating into the US, the DoA postponed fee increase for 30 days. IATA will continue efforts to have the increase withdrawn permanently.

New Roadmap – Liquids and Gels

The European Union has developed a “Roadmap” for the phased the introduction of liquids and gels screening equipment at EU airports. This would mean that liquids could be screened as the passenger moves through the security checkpoint, enabling the current 3oz restrictions to be lifted. 

In the initial phase, due to start April 2010, liquid restrictions would be lifted for duty free or other goods carried in Secure Tamper Evident Bags carried by connecting passengers arriving from outside of the EU. Currently, those passengers would have to surrender their purchases.

Recent discussions in the EU revealed that airports  believe that this may not be feasible due to throughput and connections infrastructure. A solution is still under discussion in the EU.

IATA believes that the liquids ban should be lifted, provided that the solutions in place are efficient, effective and well communicated.

Secure Flight

The US Secure Flight program deadline of 31 October has been reached. From now on, non-US based carriers must request minimum required Secure Flight data at time of reservation and also be "prepared to transmit it to TSA" via the DHS Router system.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced that an alternative to support carriers unable to send Secure Flight data from their Reservation system at 72 hours prior to departure would sunset in April 2011. This policy decision could lead to operational difficulties for many carriers who have already commenced program development.  

Additionally, TSA is considering imposing a mandate that no reservation for a covered flight could be ticketed (or possibly even accepted) unless it contains full Secure Flight data.  IATA is continuing to communicate the industry's concerns on these and other issues relating to the Secure Flight program's rollout.