The efficient and safe movement of air cargo hinges on President Trump\u2019s timely nomination of a new head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Airforwarders Association (AfA) said last week, stating that \u201cpolitical leadership of agency is essential to air transportation safety.\u201d The White House has, so far, failed to confirm a new administrator, following the retirement of Peter Neffinger, who left with the Obama administration.
\nBrandon Fried, the AfA\u2019s executive director
\nAir Carrier Standard Security Program (IACSSP) The AfA praised the work of the agency\u2019s interim leadership and staff, but warned that the TSA\u2019s operations and policies have a broad impact on its members. Representing more than 300 companies that move air cargo through the supply chain, the AfA noted that the ongoing vacancy could disrupt operations and compromise economic growth.
\n\u201cKnowing the way things work in Washington, it is important that TSA is under the direction of someone who has been officially endorsed by both the President and the Congress,\u201d said Brandon Fried, the AfA\u2019s executive director. \u201cIt is important to our industry, to the traveling public and the nation at large to get this underway.\u201d
\nUnder the Obama administration, the TSA\u2019s Indirect Air Carrier Standard Security Program (IACSSP) was nearing completion. The program is designed to make air cargo transport and safety more efficient, flexible and cost-effective for both industry and government. Without leadership, progress has stalled, and Fried and other industry advocates say the time to act is now.
\nConfirmed leadership at TSA, Fried said, will also help champion the success of important initiatives, such as making modifications to the \u201cknown shipper\u201d program that accommodate the changing needs of business in an e-commerce environment, and the expanded use of privatized canines in government certified screening facilities run by air forwarders.
\nThose interested in learning more about airfreight in 2017, should join us at Cargo Facts Asia in Shanghai, 25 \u2013 26 April. \u00a0To register, or for more information, go to\u00a0CargoFactsAsia.com
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\nSource: aircargoworld<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"