Why cargo is screened
Aircraft carry passengers, crew and freight together, and the same aircraft may have both passengers and parcels on board. Regulators therefore require that cargo be secured against unlawful interference, such as the placement of explosive or incendiary devices. The detail of the rules differs between countries and regions, and they change over time, so the information here is general. A shipper should always confirm current requirements with its carrier or forwarder.
The basic principle is that cargo must either be physically screened by an approved method, or travel through a secure supply chain in which the shipper and every handler are vetted and the freight is protected from tampering from the moment it is packed.
What happens at the cargo terminal
Cargo handling at an airport follows a sequence.
- Arrival and acceptance. A truck delivers the freight to a cargo terminal. Staff check the piece count and weight against the air waybill, look for visible damage and verify the shipper’s security status.
- Screening or security check. Freight that has not already been secured is screened.
- Storage. Accepted freight is held in a warehouse, often in a controlled area, until its flight is ready to be built.
- Build-up. Handlers load parcels onto pallets or into containers, which are weighed, wrapped or closed and recorded.
- Transfer to the aircraft. The built-up units are moved to the aircraft by vehicle and loaded in line with a load plan.
- Unloading and breakdown at the destination. The process reverses, with freight taken into a terminal, broken down and made available for customs or collection.
Each step is recorded so that a parcel’s location can be shown if it is queried. Handling is one stage in the wider air cargo chain.
Common screening methods
Different methods are used depending on the type of cargo and the equipment available.
- X-ray imaging. Parcels pass through a scanner that produces an image for an operator or software to review. It works well for many small packages, but dense or tightly packed cargo can be harder to interpret.
- Explosive trace detection. Swabs are taken from surfaces and tested for trace residues.
- Explosive detection dogs. Trained dogs may be used in some settings as an additional method.
- Physical inspection. Staff open and examine the contents, which is slower and may require the shipper’s consent.
- Larger-scale scanning. Pallets or large consignments may be checked with equipment that is designed for bigger loads.
An alarm or an unclear image leads to a second-level check. That can mean a longer delay, and in some cases the shipment is refused.
Trusted shippers and secure supply chains
In many jurisdictions, businesses can be approved as known or regulated parties after an assessment of their premises, staff vetting and procedures. Cargo from such a business, kept secure from the point of packing, can be accepted without being screened again at the airport, or screened at an earlier point by the approved party. Programmes and terms differ by country, and approval is a formal process rather than something a shipper can simply claim.
For a small shipper, the practical route is often to use a forwarder or integrator that holds the relevant approvals. The carrier then handles the security requirements, and the shipper provides accurate declarations and tamper-evident packaging as requested.
How screening affects transit time
Security checks add time in a few ways.
- Queues at peak times. Busy periods can mean waiting for screening capacity.
- Cut-off rules. Carriers usually require freight to be accepted and screened some hours before departure. Missing that point can move the parcel to a later flight, which is why cut-off times matter.
- Second-level checks. Alarms and unclear images need additional steps.
- Documentation holds. Cargo cannot be accepted if the paperwork is incomplete or the security status cannot be confirmed.
A well-prepared shipment with clear documents and a secure supply chain often moves with little visible delay, while a problem item can add many hours or even days. The size of the effect varies a great deal between airports and carriers, so it is best treated as something to allow for in planning rather than something to predict precisely.
Items that attract extra attention
Certain goods draw more scrutiny. These include dangerous goods, which have their own acceptance procedures, especially for batteries and liquids. Other examples are items that look unusual on an image, tightly sealed or very dense packages, electronic devices with unclear descriptions, and goods whose declared contents do not match the paperwork. Prohibited items cannot be shipped at all, and a hidden restricted item can lead to refusal or more serious consequences.
Practical steps for shippers
- Describe the contents accurately and consistently on every document.
- Pack neatly, so that an inspector can reopen and reseal the parcel without damaging it, and use tamper-evident tape where requested by the carrier.
- Avoid unnecessary shielding materials such as dense metal foils around contents, which can obscure images.
- Allow extra time before cut-off, especially in busy seasons.
- Tell your carrier or forwarder in advance about any batteries, liquids, powders or other items that may require special handling.
- Answer security questions truthfully. Incorrect declarations can result in delays, refusal or penalties.
- Keep the parcel secure between packing and handover so that its status is not in doubt.
Security is not an optional extra on top of air transport. It is built into each stage, and good preparation is the most reliable way to keep its impact on your schedule small.