One of TCE’s unique services as a specialist air cargo operations and compliance partner is its specialised auditing team, which is always on hand to support airlines in maintaining high operational, quality, and security standards across their network.
TCE has become an established audit provider in the air cargo industry in recent years, both for routine compliance topics as well as more specialised validation requirements.
Its audit portfolio encompasses a range of assessments, including regular station inspections, station opening audits, ACC3 pre-validation audits, ACC3 compliance checks, and ACC3 validations, which are carried out together with certified independent EU and UK validators.
Audit schedules are tailored to each airline’s requirements and operational priorities. While audit planning is often risk-based, given the fragmented and changing nature of the air cargo industry’s supply chain, audits are generally performed at least every two years.
In outsourcing audits to TCE, airlines save significantly on travel costs and internal staffing reallocation. Instead, they can rely on TCE supplying a full audit oversight, following an in-depth assessment of the station in question.
Salvatore Bernardo, Quality Safety and Security (QSS) Manager & Special Projects, Manager of TCE, explains: “At TCE, our goal is to provide airlines with reliable, efficient, and fully compliant audit solutions, ensuring the highest operational, quality and security standards across the network.
“Our audits go beyond routine checks. They give a structured review of processes, documentation, handling procedures and safety compliance, to warrant alignment with airline and regulatory requirements.”
Most audits take between one and two days, with the exact duration depending on the audit scope, the operational size of the station, and the risk level involved.
They are mainly conducted onsite, though remote execution is also possible in certain situations.
TCE-certified auditors meticulously assess all required points and share the results with the audited station and the airlines operating there, so that all relevant stakeholders have visibility into findings and compliance status.
TCE also manages audit follow-ups through its Quality Management System, which tracks corrective action reports and sets defined closure deadlines. This creates a clear path from audit findings to remediation.
The TCE auditing team currently consists of four auditors, all of whom have received Aviation Auditor Training and hold additional, relevant qualifications from certified training providers.
Regular refresher training, on-the-job feedback from lead auditors, and guidance from EU and UK validators ensure that each auditor is kept up to date of the latest requirements.
In addition, they monitor developments from industry authorities and regulatory bodies such as IATA, ICAO, IOSA, EASA, TSA, CBP, and CBSA.
Sarah Scheibe, Managing Director of TCE, says: “Our team of TCE-certified auditors is on hand throughout the year.
“With a TCE audit, an airline can be certain that compliance and operational quality have been fully assessed, any weak points subsequently calibrated, and full control restored and maintained.
“Auditing done through TCE gives airlines flexibility and peace of mind, as it avoids having to temporarily reallocate limited staff to other stations, and each audit is carried out by professional, impartial auditors.”