U.K. agents find air freight system is not a custom fit; agents may find it difficult to link with the new customs entry system.

Within the next six months, Britain's air freight community faces a potential chaos not seen since Travicom's replacement for ACP80, the computerized Customs Entry system then in use in Britain, failed five years ago. But British Telecom (BT), which developed ACP80 and its eventual replacement, ACP90, retains a strong enough hold Britain's air cargo technology to ensure continuity, if nothing else.

BT's new system, CCS-UK (Cargo Community System for the United Kingdom), and its associated packages -- ASM2000 for agents and AVS2000 for airlines and cargo shed operators -- have caused much confusion and misunderstanding in the U.K. cargo community.

Most airport users are resigned to the fact that BT is to supply the new system --'necessary both to replace outdated technology and to link with Customs' new computer system, Chief, also written by BT. Some had hoped that a tender to supply the new system last summer would break BT's monopoly at the airports, but many, with memories of Travicom's fiasco at the airports, are happy that BT has the job.

They are not so happy, however, with some of the burdens being placed on them by the new system. Agents, in …