In 1993, the FAA required all airlines to identify the freight forwarders with which they do business. Those companies are required to come up with a security plan that meets the FAA's standards. Still, many say the changes don't go far enough. An official at one small freight forwarding company said the cargo is not inspected or X-rayed and it sometimes is delivered already packed and ready for shipment. But he acknowledged that is a subjective decision.
Security experts say the system is flawed.
He noted that the May 11 ValuJet crash in the Everglades has been attributed to faulty oversight of freight - oxygen canisters that were shipped in the cargo hold were believed to have started the fire that brought the plane down. That same lack of oversight could translate into a lack of security. President Bill Clinton's tightening of airport security, announced last week, also addressed cargo. But federal officials would not be specific about what was being done. The industry, which carries much of the burden of screening, says it tries to deal only with known companies.