“We know we are in a dirty and loud business,” said Tim Holderer, Senior First Officer, MD-11, Lufthansa Cargo AG.
     “But at Lufthansa we are all committed and striving for a sustainable way of flying. We want to conduct our business as clean as we can and with as little negative environmental impact as possible.”
     Having just spent all of Monday in session after session of all things environmental at Lufthansa Cargo Frankfurt, that statement from a young, bright, first officer—who is out there flying an MD-11 freighter to destinations all over the world—sticks in the mind.
     No doubt every time Senior First Officer Tim takes off and lands in places like Quito, Ecuador, where he likes to spend his layovers riding a bike up and down roads alongside local volcanoes whilst marveling at the beauty of lush green earth and amazing vistas, he is thinking about what can be done to fly and live cleaner to preserve the earth.
     When you think about it, although some might like to argue the point, the air cargo business and, for that matter, transportation in general make more chin music (talk) about climate care and environmental issues than they do anything else.
     Sure, everybody has a program—some more aggressive and result driven than others—but in 2012 a soft business climate has put survival on the front burner as a regular headline item.
     Much to its credit, Lufthansa Cargo moved climate care to global attention on Monday, August 13, with their annual Climate Care Conference held in Frankfurt, Germany.
     In Germany, where environmental issues are essentially on the radar all the time, Lufthansa Cargo stood up and was counted not only as a participant, but in many ways a leader in the movement toward sustainable environmental business practices.
     Presentations were wide ranging and all encompassing, and included everything from the development of lightweight containers, to biofuels, to how aircraft can be flown to lessen their noise.
     Other initiatives were discussed, including the Lufthansa plan to receive a fleet of up to ten new B777Fs (five firm, five options beginning in 2013) and a new $600 million cargo center in Frankfurt, which will be approved possibly as early as September of this year and will offer significant advantages as the carrier further targets environmental issues.
     While much of this news had been revealed previously, it did not lessen the impact of the sum effort of going green at the carrier.
     While not alone amongst airlines that are bringing these issues forward, Lufthansa Cargo is certainly out front and pulling away in the effort to bring greater awareness of the importance of the environment to both the air cargo industry and the rest of the world as well.
      Dr. Karl-Rudolf Rupprecht, Executive Board Member, underscored by his presence the import of the conference to the carrier by delivering both an overview and keynote address, offering attendees a glimpse of the true state of the Lufthansa Cargo “green vision.”
     “Hard work and tough project management are a huge investment, but well worth it,” Dr. Rupprecht said.
     “Today, Frankfurt is the seventh largest hub in the world and of course we operate our hub and spoke system here.
     “All of our decisions are pointing toward environmental efficiency.
     “At Lufthansa, the environment is not just talk, but reality.
     “We have made a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint.
     “But what must be done to both reduce the carbon footprint and still grow as a business?
     “Our long term plan is to reduce our carbon footprint 25 percent by 2020.
     “How do we achieve this?
     “Our baseline for the aviation industry is a four pillar strategy: technological progress, operational measures, improved infrastructure and economic measures.
     “All of this has to be done without compromising flight safety.
     “At Lufthansa, we are proactive and have employees involved in achieving environmental sustainability at all levels.
     “We implement more than 50 fuel saving measures in flight operation.
     “Every measure counts.
     “For example, 40 kilos of operation manuals were replaced by an electronic flight bag.
     “That small reduction of 20 kg weight can generate fuel savings of 100 tons per year, a reduction in CO2 emissions of 3,151 tons—equal to two flights from FRA to Sharjah.”
     Bettina Jansen, Head of Environmental Management at Lufthansa Cargo, echoes Herr Rupprecht's forthright statements. “Our commitment is leading the way in environmental issues.
     “We began this initiative in 2007 and put in a specific policy in the fall of 2009. The Lufthansa Cargo Environmental cube encompasses eight points for customers as well as partners and serves as our roadmap toward reaching our goal of achieving that targeted 25 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020.
     “Cube essentials include our internal activities—in the air, on the ground, everywhere—and also includes our Environmental Management System and dialogue with scientists and customers and partners with communications to everyone both inside and outside of Lufthansa Cargo.
     “We are working to optimize our flight routes and approach procedures. Made of composite materials, our lightweight containers are lighter and stronger and also reduce CO2 impact significantly.
     “Most importantly, we know that our efforts work, leading us to believe that we will achieve our goals.
     “Lufthansa Cargo succeeded in reducing CO2 emissions form 781 to 496 grams per ton-kilometer transported between 1996 and 2001,” Bettina Jansen said.
Geoffrey/Flossie

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     The best airport breakfast is at Frankfurt International Airport’s Intercity Hotel in Cargo City Süd.
     Everything about this experience is just stellar, including “hackfleisch,” which is served daily as an elegant, piquant combination of bratwurst and spices, beef and raw sweet onion served as a tartar (mett).
     The hackfleisch sits innocently enough near the cold cuts on the breakfast buffet.
     But I promise, one bite will tell you why you have taste buds.
     The room of Restaurant Fluggi is bright and cheerful in colors that say good morning, and it is usually filled with Asiana crew who bring a certain feeling of the excitement and expectation of flight.
     But oh! The food…
     Eggs any way you like them, always hot and fresh, and coffee freshly brewed from several machines in any configuration you can imagine.
     Crepes, pancakes, waffles and stewed tomatoes, rice, bacon, sausages and oatmeal, a dozen cheeses, cold cuts and breads winding around and half way up a column that stands in the middle of everything.
     Broad windows offer a view outside while you are dining that is also super; one of the most important aviation artifacts is on display for the public, alive and well at this lovely, small hotel.
     It sits in the center of an outdoor garden: a column with a stylized globe of the world, bands of aircraft encircling it, atop which a bird of peace holds in its beak a gilded olive branch.
     The view is both beautiful and inspirational.
     Once upon a time in 1933, until the redevelopment of Frankfurt International Airport, this column (although a bit higher) was situated in the center of all the action at the FRA outdoor restaurant.
     Credit Anton Wüstefeld for both building a better breakfast than many people have ever seen in a public place and creating a dreamlike atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment.
     Herr Wüstefeld is general manager of Intercity Frankfurt in Cargo City Süd.
     He is no pushover either.
     This place sings from its spotless rooms (small, compact and efficient) and corridors to its immaculate restaurant Fluggi, to the airport’s most inviting and cozy saloon, The JU52, with its old airline pictures and artifacts and Harry, JU52’s legendary bartender.
     Simply put, Anton works like hell and takes nothing for granted.
     Last time we were there, Intercity Cargo City Süd was packed, with meetings happening all over the place.
     It seems word is getting out.
     So can a Berlin Airlift era USAF hotel find a spot in the hearts and minds of the 21st century world?
     Intercity has done just that and in the rubber stamped era, this place looks better every day.
     And what a breakfast!
Geoffrey/Flossie

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