Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano Appoints the Airforwarders Association to Security Committee

We are pleased to announce that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has named the Airforwarders Association as one of only 24 members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC).  The newly appointed ASAC will continue the important work of enhancing aviation security through dialogue with key stakeholders, concerned citizens and business leaders.  ASAC gathers input from stakeholders on the effectiveness of security procedures and develops recommendations for improvements to aviation security methods.

While we appreciate and look forward to our future involvement, it is regrettable that the ASAC was engaged in a limited fashion in the last several years by TSA. We strongly urge TSA to hold regular meetings of the ASAC and provide the opportunity for two-way communications on pending policy actions, including the international screening of air cargo.

The committee has a membership limit of 27 representatives and candidates beyond the 24 announced today may be presented for appointment as needed to support the work of the committee. Members serve up to two-year terms and those included in today's announcement will serve terms of office that will expire on July 23, 2013. Other members of the ASAC include the Air Transport Association, Airports Council International, International Air Transport Association and other organizations with which AfA works with on a regular basis.

For a full list of members, please click here:

The air cargo screening mandate went into effect August 1, three years after a bill was enacted based the recommendations of the independent 9/11 Commission to require screening of 100 percent of air cargo carried on passenger planes. To read further, please
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With the Congressional mandate now live, Good Morning America talks with TSA Administrator John Pistole regarding the screening program and how it will affect the airlines and shipping. To view, Click here

By Leischen Stelter - 08.03.2010

WASHINGTON—Although a Government Accountability Office report released in June found that the Transportation Security Administration would have difficulty meeting the 9/11 Act requirement of 100 percent screening of cargo on domestic passenger aircraft, the TSA on Aug. 2 announced the airline industry has met the Congressional mandate.

CCSP Overview – 9/11 Act Screening Requirement

In 2007, Congress passed the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act more commonly known as the 9/11 Act. This new law mandated that all cargo transported on a passenger aircraft be screened for explosives by August 1, 2010. At the time, the deadline seemed far off on the horizon, but as we move closer to the summer, 100 percent screening is becoming a reality for all businesses. TSA is urging businesses to closely examine how they ship cargo on passenger aircraft.