The Singapore Aircargo Agents Association (SAAA) has been active in assisting in the latest programme by the Singapore Police Force, the Appropriate Authority for Aviation Security which implemented the Regulated Air Cargo Agents Regime (RCAR) on 1 April 2008.
The RCAR is a security measure to enhance air cargo security on passenger commercial air craft in view of the global terrorist threat and it is also a requirement by ICAO and replaces the existing Known Shipper Policy (KSP) Regime.
Under the new regime, a cargo handling agent, freight forwarder, freight consolidator, freight carrier, cargo terminal operator or any other commercial and legal entity, or consignor of air cargo may register to be a Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RCA).
The State will regulate and define security measures that RCAs are required to comply with when tendering or handling cargo that are meant for carriage on commercial passenger aircraft.
As part of the regime, all RCAs are required to submit a Security Programme (SP). This SP will specify all the security measures adopted by the cargo agents.
The adopted security measures must be approved by the Police and will commence from the point cargo is accepted until they are delivered to the Airfreight Terminal for export.
The Singapore Police have highlighted that some cargo agents may require service providers to assist in formulating their SPs. As such the Police have advised that the Airport Police Division (APD) intends to accredit Security Consultancy firms to provide such services to interested cargo agents.
Established in 1971 in light of the need to unite cargo handling agents in Singapore at a time when the industry was on the verge of taking off in Singapore, the SAAA liaises closely with other Associations in Singapore as well as local government agencies, actively promoting programmes to better the air cargo industry.
This was shown in the 1980s when a training centre was established to assist agents in upgrading their employees to better serve the industry.
The SAAA conducts regular seminars, dialogue sessions with the various government agencies to keep the members updated on the latest developments. SAAA also bridges the gap between agents and the relevant authorities via lunches, sports events and gatherings such as Bosses’ Night. The Association also does its part in contributing towards the community by organising a yearly Charity Golf Tournament. Beneficiaries are selected each year and the funds raised are being channeled into the beneficiary after the event.
The SAAA welcomes any inquiries, please visit our website: www.saaa.org.sg or email: [email protected].
Obituary
For the second time in less than two months tributes and condolences flowed from FAPAA members following the news that Masayoshi Dobashi, president of the Japan Aircargo Forwarders Association (JAFA) passed away.
The news came as shock to delegates who had only just returned from the FAPAA 35th Executive Council Meeting and Annual General Meeting in Tokyo.
The delegates paid tribute to Mr Dobashi and his team for their warm hospitality in organising what they said was a highly successful and enjoyable meeting. The highly respected JAFA head died on 1 May of an apparent heart attack.
The news of Mr Dobashi’s demise came only weeks after the news that Namgyal Lama, president of the Nepal Freight Forwarders’ Association (NEFFA), had passed away.
At the recent FAPAA meeting, held in Tokyo on April 25th and 26th, the FAPAA Chairman called for delegates to observe a one minute silence prior to the commencement of the meeting.
Many delegates, who had attended the FAPAA meeting in Kathmandu in October 2003, spoke often of the warmth, hospitality and help extended to them and of the superb organisational skills demonstrated by NEFFA under the leadership of Mr Lama.
Earlier in February, members of the Singapore Aircargo Agents Association (SAAA) also mourned the death of one of their members, Mrs Soo Lee who served as the SAAA’s chief executive officer, who was described as one of the association’s most valuable contributors.