Client Story

Closing the Air Cargo Security Gap Worldwide

In October 2010, terrorists artfully concealed bombs inside printer cartridges and shipped them on two all-cargo carriers from Yemen, transiting through international airports en route to Chicago, IL. Their intent was to detonate the devices over the East Coast of the United States.

Thankfully, the plot was foiled—authorities discovered and disarmed the bombs at the connecting airports.

The incident raised significant concerns about air cargo security. At the time, international standards for securing cargo varied depending on whether it was transported by commercial passenger aircraft or all-cargo aircraft. In 2012, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) harmonized these standards and gave countries until June 30, 2021, to implement them.

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The Strategic Driver and Agency Objective

In September 2016, ICAO published guidance detailing how countries could comply with the new standards. In response, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) established an Integrated Project Team (IPT) and tasked it with reviewing the guidance and developing methods by which the United States could comply.

How Kevin Helped

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  • The IPT enlisted Kevin as its primary consultant. Over a two-year period, Kevin and the IPT engaged with trade groups and individual companies, toured warehouses and cargo facilities, mapped cargo flows through the supply chain, and identified key points where cargo is tendered for air travel.

    Stakeholder input—along with capacity and intent to screen cargo—was central to developing policy options. In August 2018, the IPT communicated these options to industry, emphasizing the need to meet regulatory requirements without impeding the flow of U.S. exports. One option included the use of third-party explosive detection canines.

  • In October 2018, Congress passed legislation directing TSA to establish a third-party certifier and canine provider program for air cargo security. Kevin again served on a security policy and industry engagement team tasked with creating the program.

    With the June 30, 2021, deadline front of mind, the team worked expeditiously to launch the initiative. Two industry events were held: one in Washington, D.C., for air cargo carriers and their trade associations, and another in San Antonio, TX, for canine providers and certifiers interested in offering TSA-regulated explosive detection services.

    Industry input was incorporated into TSA’s Standard Security Programs, and the 3PK9 program officially opened for provider registration under the new regulatory framework in December 2018.

The Ultimate Outcome

TSA successfully met the June 30, 2021, deadline to harmonize the screening of cargo carried on all-cargo aircraft with that of cargo on commercial passenger aircraft. It also fulfilled Congress’s directive to include third-party canine providers as a screening option.

The 3PK9 program emerged as a critical solution to meet this challenging mandate. It leveraged TSA-approved private sector canine teams to enhance security, improve efficiency, and reduce costs—while reinforcing U.S. global leadership in aviation security.