Sucking Sound As
DOJ Indictments Continue

     If you can hear a large sucking sound, it just might be the sound of a deal that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made in 2008 with Air France/KLM Cargo, which called for AF/KLM to pay a $210 million fine to stop any further price fixing investigation. The deal excluded Marc Boudier, Jean Charles Foucault, Bram Graber, Jean Paul Moreau & Michael Wisbrun from protection.
     So what we had here was a gentlemen’s agreement to pay a fine and punch the DOJ’s ticket, allowing the DOJ to come after all the bosses at both airlines’ cargo departments at a later date.
     Now as Spring 2011 begins and oil is again at record levels, and Jean Paul and Bram have already received the negative attention of these prosecutor creeps in one form or another, DOJ has lowered the boom on Marc and Jean Charles.
     If convicted, Marc and Jean Charles face ten years in the slammer and a million dollar fine.
     But if the past is prologue, faced with the certain annihilation of both their fortunes and reputations, expect the aforementioned to cop a plea and, as the DOJ hopes, sing like canaries to lessen personal financial loss and utter personal devastation.
     Of course, all of this will be followed by these prosecutors going after even more people, armed with whatever they can squeeze out of those on the hot seat now.
     You cannot make this stuff up and one can only wonder when air cargo will get the wake up call and stand up to these prosecutors who in action are no better than a bunch of roadside bandits, first taking huge fines and then going after individuals who after ten or twenty years of acting on behalf of their companies find themselves cut adrift to fend for themselves against almost impossible odds.
     Kudos to Cargolux for standing up for their former CEO, Uli Ogiermann.
     Get some spine and stand up for your people, AF/ KLM.
     And sadly the sensationalist atmosphere will continue as these politically-driven prosecutors masquerade as standing up for the public good.
     CNS Partnership next week and TIACA 2012 in Atlanta should not be surprised if the vast majority of top flight international air cargo executives defer appearing on USA soil, preferring to avoid these out of control prosecutions whilst operating their businesses from the safety of almost anywhere else in the world.
     And what will historians write of this period in air cargo history?
     That top air cargo executives were law breakers, airlines paid huge fines, people got thrown under the bus and prosecutors sat counting the money and adding up personal gain until their hands got tired?
     Then everybody took a break and waited awhile and started up the prosecution merry go round all over again?
     Somebody has to take the lead and rally air cargo to say enough is enough.
     Here is what we had to say about price fixing in 2006.
     Your move.
Geoffrey/Flossie

Neel Shah Warns
Of Security Disruptions

     Maybe it was jet lag, but when TSA Cargo Chief Doug Brittin told the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) delegates at their AGM in Bangkok last week that the TSA might set December 31, 2011 as the new deadline for 100% screening of all inbound USA air cargo, two years earlier than originally planned, the gathering that said thanks to the great Uli Ogiermann who stepped down as Chairman and hello to Michael Steen who stepped up (pictured l to r above), was ready.
     Neel Shah, Senior Vice President & Chief Cargo Officer for Delta Air Lines and chairman of TIACA’s Security Sub-committee warned:
     “Unless TSA and, more broadly speaking, the entire U.S. government focuses the necessary resources on reviewing the process and timeline by which foreign security programs are validated and placed into the TSA’s National Cargo Security Program (NCSP), we will face some significant disruptions to the global supply chain.
     “It’s critical that we get more foreign programs under review and certified into the NCSP in the next few months—especially if TSA is considering an accelerated deadline for 100% inbound screening.”
     Michael Steen, TIACA Chairman concurred. “We’ve received strong feedback from our members, not just in Asia but globally, that the potential December 31, 2011 deadline and the slow progress on foreign program certification are critical issues.
  
 Say hello to my little friend! Here Hartsfield Jackson International Airport’s Warren Jones is pictured at TIACA evening party that carried forward elements of traditional Thai hospitality and wishes of good health and luck.
   Atlanta will be the venue for TIACA Forum & Trade Show 2012.

     TIACA will raise these issues with key policymakers over the next few months seeking a longer deadline, and an improved approach on foreign program review.”
     At the AGM, TIACA also added air cargo veteran and author, the now retired Camille Allaz to its Hall of Fame.
     Mr. Allaz is pictured being presented the honorarium by Emirates SkyCargo DSVP Ram Menen.
Geoffrey

TSA Security Chief Joins Mercury

     “We are extremely pleased to have recruited someone of Don Basso’s level of expertise and experience.
     “He will significantly enhance MAS the consulting arm of Mercury Air Group, Inc., and the services we are able to offer,” said David A. Herbst, President of Mercury Aviation Services, Inc. as the Los Angeles-based company revealed that Donald M. Basso has joined as Vice President of Mercury Aviation Services with responsibility for operations and sales.
     Most recently, Mr. Basso was working on TSA’s plans for 100% screening of cargo in-bound to the U.S.
Donald Basso also served as a Principal Cargo Security Analyst with the TSA Air Cargo Group where he was responsible for developing and deploying the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP).
     MAS provides aviation security expertise and operational consulting to airlines, shippers, forwarders, as well as foreign and domestic airports.
     Additionally, MAS is the first Transportation Security Administration (TSA) certified on-airport Independent Cargo Screening Facility operator in the United States and provides cargo screening services to the aviation industry.
     Mr. Basso’s passenger and cargo experience matched with military service is a strong combination.
     “Mr. Basso brings an impressive background to MAS, including subject matter expertise in airport security, and cargo, passenger and checked baggage screening as well as service in the Military Police Corps with tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in Africa and Europe.
     “As a member of the New York Army National Guard, Basso was deployed to the World Trade Center immediately following 9/11 for rescue, recovery and security operations,” Mr. Herbst noted.
     “Mercury’s reputation is unmatched within the aviation industry and very well respected within TSA,” Mr. Basso told Air Cargo News FlyingTypers adding:
     “This move makes sense for me in putting my knowledge to work and helping airlines, airports and others in the supply chain maximize their understanding and compliance with the regulatory and security challenges that will continue to become more restrictive.”
Geoffrey

     Last week on Good Friday at around 20:00 hours, a freak tornado swept through historic St. Louis Lambert Field lifting vehicles, ripping open heavy locked security doors and sending shards of glass and debris all over the interior passenger facilities.
     The scene for a few brief terrifying minutes was not unlike some horrible disaster movie with everyone’s world suddenly turned upside down with passengers and airline service people alike huddling into interior spaces like bathrooms and protected passageways while the scene played out in slow motion.
     "I prayed,” Connie Ladyman told USA Today
     “Dear God, I never thought I would die in a Frontier uniform.
     "The door started hissing and whistling and pressure started coming under the door. We said this seems unusual," she told USA Today.
     “I was standing by the computer. It literally picked me up. I'm 150 pounds," she said. "We all ran, it was all so surreal.”
     By early Saturday at Lambert, workers had boarded up windows and swept up glass in the main terminal, where the twister had torn off part of the roof and blown out half of the large domed plate-glass windows that are the work of Minoru Yamasaki, the modernist architect who also designed the the twin towers of the World Trade Center buildings 1 and 2 in New York City, lost in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
     Reports confirmed no deaths, with four people taken to area hospitals and one Southwest Airline jet had sustained slight damage. The whirlwind, while causing some major havoc, left room for quick recovery.
     By last Saturday night Lambert was back in business with flights.
     By Sunday around 70 percent of the scheduled arrivals and departures were operated.
     Damaged concourses are likely to remain closed for some time while repairs continue.
     "We're not going to have the prettiest airport, but we are an operating facility," airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge (above) told reporters.
Geoffrey

American Airlines applied for ten additional frequencies from USA to Brazil…RC021 took off at 9:26 a.m. Pacific time from Paine Field in Everett, Washington as a second B747-8 test bed was airborne Tuesday this week. RC021 will be used primarily for testing the various interior systems and will perform approximately 600 hours of flight testing . . . Boeing also delivered today celebrated the delivery of the first Next-Generation 737-900ER to United Continental Holdings, Inc. subsidiary Continental Airlines. CO is thereby first U.S. airline to operate the 737-800 and 737-900ER. Continental converted existing 2012 orders for Next-Generation 737s to 737-900ERs and will now be taking 19 737-900ERs in 2012. The 737-900ERs and all subsequent 737 aircraft taken by the United Continental family feature the much-ballyhooed Sky Interior, a new interior design with bigger windows and overhead bins… More proof that both Boeing and Airbus as manufacturers of passenger planes pin most of their business on the B737 and A320 respectively is what you just read and also news that the big lease company IFLC just placed an order for up to 100 of A320s. To date A320 “Family” of airplanes has now exceeded 7,000 firm orders, and is the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft…

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