Cargo on Passenger Planes May Be Inspected

Filed in archive on January 8, 2007

USA Today reported on the U.S. House of Representatives considering an aviation-security measure that would require all cargo on passenger planes to be inspected for bombs. Currently, very few inspections are done on passenger plane cargo.

The security measure is included in a larger Democratic bill that is likely to pass the House. Democrats say the measure is essential to homeland security and would close a major hole now present in security.

Final approval is not certain. Aviation industry groups are critical of the measure, saying it could prevent quick delivery of vital goods.

Each year, U.S. passenger planes carry about 6 billion pounds of cargo, typically sent by businesses that want fast shipment. Such cargo is carried on passenger planes to speed delivery and is stored in the belly of jets along with passenger luggage.

Airlines and cargo companies say inspections would take so long that passenger planes could not carry goods that require fast delivery. That includes live seafood and other perishables, and items such as auto parts that manufacturers want brought directly to plants to avoid storage costs.

"Passenger planes are still at the top of the terrorist target list," said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., Congress' leading advocate for cargo inspection. "Here is a backdoor way onto planes."

Cargo aircraft, which carry few passengers but nearly 75% of air cargo shipments, would not have their goods inspected under the measure. Read the full article at USA Today.