Brussels Backburners Security

     The interior ministers of the 27 EU member states have resolved an “action plan” to tighten air cargo security. However, upon examining the “holistic approach” agreement closer, it turns out to be a mere wish list containing many demands, proposals, and intentions for times ahead.
      The paper (tiger) is completely missing immediate, tangible efforts for present implementation that would make international cargo transports more secure.
     How controversial and personal this topic is among EU politicians was demonstrated when Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, advocated a multi layer concept which includes banning air freight transports from airports considered to be unsafe.      Favoring an EU-wide black list on insecure airports is a direct response to the recent discovery of explosive devices hidden in packages originating from Yemen. However, this black list proposal was rejected by a majority of his minister colleagues during the recent meeting.
      Instead, Brussels’ summit members decided to tighten air cargo security right on the spot and to first establish a working group consisting of EU officials and industry experts that would advise on necessary changes concerning the current security regime. Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas seemed appeased: "Security standards at European airports are widely acknowledged as being amongst the highest in the world. But the threat is evolving and we must keep our defenses under constant review. That is why we rapidly convened a high-level group involving Commission and Presidency to draw up a joint set of EU actions to address the new threat within a short timeframe.“
     His colleague, Cecilia Malmstroem, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, added that in order "to ensure an adequate response to terrorist threats, a more streamlined cooperation and coordination between the transport and justice and home affairs sector must be developed at EU level. This challenge is of crucial importance to aviation security, but goes far beyond this specific threat.”
     Coordinating, considering, intending, reviewing—here is an excerpt of what is black and white in the “action plan”:

     •  Criteria to identify cargo presenting a particular risk will be defined, as well as a mechanism to allow for the evaluation of security standards for airports outside of the EU. Specific commitments on consignment security will be sought from EU carriers operating from non-EU countries.
     •  Consideration will be given to the development of standardized training packages, to ensure harmonized understanding of the EU rules.
     •  Research will be conducted in order to enhance existing screening methods and technologies for cargo and to develop new possibilities.
     •  The EU inspection regime will be expanded to ensure that the agreed security controls are properly implemented on the ground.
     •  It is vital that information about incidents, new threats and emergency measures is shared as quickly as possible, so that new threats and risks can be tackled immediately. Steps will be taken to establish, facilitate and strengthen the flow of such information.
     •  A common all-source EU threat assessment capability will also be developed, with input from all relevant agencies at Member State and EU level. On this basis, the Commission will produce aviation security risk assessments on a regular basis.
     •  ICAO audits and capacity-building initiatives should be used as primary tools to strengthen aviation security, including cargo supply chains in non-EU countries. The EU should play an active role in these activities as such actions will not only improve the security in non-EU countries, but will also vastly benefit global trade.
     One critical observer commented, “A toothless paper tiger was produced by the panel to sooth the public, but there is little to show that it deserves the title ‘EU action plan’ for improved air freight security.”
Heiner Siegmund/Flossie

Kratky Gets Upped

     Jade Cargo’s Managing Director flight Captain Kay Kratky (52) is taking over the management of Lufthansa’s home base Rhein-Main airport and will, simultaneously, be in charge of the carrier’s entire flight operations.
     Observers consider the appointment made by the Supervisory Board of the German airline this Tuesday a big career leap.
     Frankfurt-bred Kratky began his career at the crane airline after completing his training as pilot in 1979. He became Training Captain on the Boeing B747 and head of Operations Control at Lufthansa Cargo AG in 2001. After holding different positions as head of transport management and as Captain on the MD-11 freighters, he was named Managing Director of Jade Cargo International, Shenzen (China) in 2008.
     Kratky’s promotion does not come as a surprise since he managed to turn the financially once ailing Jade Cargo into profitability. When asked by Air Cargo News FlyingTypers inOctober the manager announced that Jade’s 2010 result will be very solid and encouraging. With a fleet of six B747-400 extended range freighters in its fleet plus an additional Jumbo freighter on lease, and an extensive global network the 2004-established Chinese Lufthansa subsidiary is currently serving, the carrier’s sometimes stuttering construction phase seems to be over.
     Kratky will take own his new assignment 1 April 2011. It is uncertain at this point who will succeed him as new helm of Jade.
Heiner Siegmund

Chengdu And Chongqing
A Tale Of Two Cities

     Chengdu and Chongqing are two of the most important cities in West China; one is the capital city of Sichuan Province and the other is one of China’s five national central cities.
     The two cities are less than 300 kilometers from each other; however, both target their airports becoming the hub for West China: Shuangliu International Airport at Chengdu and Jiangbei International Airport at Chongqing.
     As the largest city in West China, Chongqing owns clear GDP and population advantage ahead of Chengdu; however, in recent years the airport at Chongqing has badly lagged behind its counterpart at Chengdu in terms of growth rate and scale of new construction.
     The current situation is that Chongqing airport handled 6 million less passengers than Chengdu’s 20 million in 2009, with mail and cargo throughput at only half of Chengdu’s 0.37 million tons in the year.
     Great opportunity came in June 2010, as the Liangjiang New Area was officially founded in Chongqing, the third sub-provincial level economic development zone after Pudong New Area in Shanghai and Binhai New Area in Tianjin.
     More favorable measures and policies were issued in the Liangjiang New Area, and more and more high-tech companies have settled down in Chongqing. The airport in Chongqing started to gain cargo resources from firms like HP Chongqing PC manufacturing Base.
     “This year, HP Chongqing base plans 3 million laptops for sale abroad, 2.4 million of which will be delivered by air. In 2011, the number by air will increase to 20 million, with daily air cargo throughput of 350 tons, the load of four B747 freighters,” Logistic Director of HP Notebook Asia-Pacific, told Air Cargo News Flying Typers.
     Just recently, good news also came in a route opening by a giant in logistics.
     On October 26, 2010, TNT Express announced a direct scheduled B747 service between Chongqing and Europe through TNT’s Liege hub. The service to Chongqing will operate three times a week.
     “Chongqing has developed as an important high-tech manufacturing center in Western China. We are pleased to contribute to the high-tech industry’s development in the region by providing pioneering international delivery services between Chongqing and Europe,” said Michael Drake, (left)Regional Managing Director, TNT North Asia.
     “As the first company to provide dedicated freight service to Chongqing, we are well positioned to seize the growing business opportunity between Western China and Europe by providing our customers with the fastest, most consistent and reliable express services.”
     To serve HP, Chongqing airport has constructed a new cargo terminal exclusively for the firm and expanded its second runway by 400 meters to facilitate the operation of large freighters like B747.
     Chongqing airport has begun to accelerate its pace in expansion and development as the third phase expansion project is now underway. Its competition with Chengdu airport for the Hub of West China will now enter a new phase.
David/Flossie

airberlin & EADS EFW Accord

     airberlin technik and EADS EFW signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen ties in aircraft maintenance.
     As the world's leading provider of Airbus freighter conversions, EADS EFW has a high level of expertise concerning heavy maintenance and structural work on Airbus aircraft. airberlin technik adds valuable knowledge and capabilities regarding line and base maintenance of Airbus and non-Airbus fleets, with a major focus on airberlin's own fleet.
     In the framework of this joint approach, both companies are able to offer customers maintenance packages that go beyond the partners' individual scope.
     "Thanks to the team-up with EADS EFW, we expand our international maintenance network through a partner whose capabilities fit perfectly into it. Our presence on the MRO market is to grow further and we are glad to have EADS EFW helping us break capacity maximums by spill-over of workload," said airberlin's Chief Maintenance Officer, Helmut Himmelreich.
     "EADS EFW is continuously developing its maintenance business and we are glad to have airberlin technik among our partners. Over the previous years, we expanded our portfolio beyond our core business freighter conversion and we are confident to leverage significant synergies regarding experience, marketing and procurement under the cooperation with airberlin," said Andreas Sperl, President & CEO of EADS EFW.

At TIACA Up Close & Personal