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Unmatched Ability to Identify Explosive Odors With an unparalleled sense of smell, bomb dogs have a unique ability to sniff out odors in parts-per-trillion. Canines also smell in layers, which allows them to recognise and discern an individual explosive ingredient even when that explosive is masked by other odors. The best EDCs are imprinted and trained on all five families of explosives, in addition to homemade explosives (HMEs) like TATP, HMTD, Potassium Chlorate, Ammonium Nitrate and Urea Nitrate—always live, pure and never 'cocktailed' to ensure recognition accuracy in the field. Expedient & Unobtrusive Explosive Screening As a practical matter, the modern technology used to screen large quantities of air cargo with the speed necessary to satisfy the worldwide supply chain simply does not exist—and may not exist for some time. A properly imprinted and trained EDC can screen a typical Unit Loading Device(ULD) in minutes, not hours, with minimised interruptions to business. Full Container Screening Capabilities Canines allow for the effective screening of shipment types that may prove more challenging to screen using conventional technological methods. EDCs are one of the few tools to effectively screen entire pallets, containers or ULDs containing multiple types of goods without the need to break them down to individual components: this translates into considerable labor, operational and time efficiencies. Operational Training Specificity While EDCs are a proven tool for addressing and preventing the
Simply put, there is no machine or technology application able to
threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), not just any canine will
detect the presence of explosive materials in the same way as a
do. It is critical that the EDC deployed in an air cargo environment
canine. The value of an organisation, its people, operations and
carries an imprint and training specificity for that deployment.
facility is immeasurable: explosive detection canines are the best
Additionally, EDCs should receive operational training based on
solution to safeguard—and embolden— this value.
individual and specific loading protocols for a given deployment, which may include partial screening as cargo is loaded, full pallet
Marc Murphy,
screening or other unique requirements.
Director of Air Cargo & Aviation, MSA Security FORWARDER magazine
June 2017
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