I’ve attended almost every major air cargo conference of the last 40 years. Recently I was looking over the agenda of yet another industry gathering when the thought occurred to me that at all these events, people rarely talk about airports much anymore.
      The airports of the world certainly attend industry events and even buy display stands to tell their story.
      And yes, occasionally there is a panel. In the case of the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) there have even been some very public airport officials in the top posts of the organization. Right now we can look to Warren Jones, who at one time was charged with air cargo fortunes at Harstfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest fields on earth.
      But issues that affect the everyday operations of air cargo businesses, like out-of-control, overlong truck queues at airports, for example, on the whole get less attention at many of our industry gatherings.
      So we have decided to open up the conversation with something different in 2016.
      I love the airports. I always have. I created an 800-page book called Great Airports Worldwide for Airport Council International (ACI) in 1988. It included 137 airport histories.
      I’m very proud to announce a unique FlyingTypers’ series that begins in this issue. We will present airport stories connected exclusively to air cargo, reaching out to various aerial gateways to discover what they are doing to better serve the industry and what issues and challenges are being addressed and met. FlyingTypers will present updates from one of the most vital partners in the air cargo business, the airports, in their own words.
      These stories are meant to both create and drive the conversation.
      We will shine a light on the problems and offer tenable solutions.
      Our series will continue all year long—this is by no means an advertorial exercise, as we seek stories written by the people on the ground at dozens of aerial gateways.
      The conversation asks you to join in and have your views heard, so please feel free to share your ideas with us.
      In the case of airport air cargo truck queues, everybody knows about the long lines of trucks picking up and delivering goods. They have become a real bottleneck at airports everywhere.
      In today’s issue, you will read all about what Atlanta is doing about it. Let’s carry the conversation further.
      Read the article.
      What do you think?
      Did we cover the subject? Did you learn something? What was the takeaway?
      If you are working in an air cargo capacity at any airport in the world we want to now what you think of the current state of cargo affairs where you are.
      Make your voice part of the conversation and we will all be better for it.
      Write to me.