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   Vol. 14  No. 63
Thursday August 6, 2015

Hazmat Goes Mainstream

A recent issue of the magazine DER SPIEGEL featured a report spotlighting a German manufacturer of bonding and glue products currently exploring opportunities in the yet largely undiscovered African market.
     The company has deployed a binational, multilingual African-German specialist, taking advantage of the fact that German engineered products are usually held in high regard in Africa.


Hazmat Goes Mainstream


     This would hardly seem a story for FT and its readers if not for the revealing glimpse at the driving industry issue of transport of hazardous materials in a popular mainstream market magazine.
     DER SPIEGEL writes of the sales representative for the company (identified by name and location) who travels on airlines identified for itineraries in various African locations, carrying not only sales brochures but also with a considerable amount of demonstration objects and product samples as passenger baggage.
     These product samples, according to the report, include various specific glues and bonding products as well as brake cleaner.


Brake Cleaner Is DG

     Brake cleaner usually takes the form of a flammable aerosol spray (division 2.1) and is not permitted within passenger’s baggage under ICAO and IATA regulations.
     Likewise, bonding products and glues will meet the classification criteria of various classes, predominantly in class 3 and class 9; and the carriage of dangerous goods (or hazardous materials) not for the personal use of the passenger (such as demonstration materials, exhibition models, product samples, or giveaways) is expressly forbidden aboard passenger aircraft.
     Provisions forbidding this kind of carry on in any form including passenger luggage are clearly spelled out in subsection 2.3 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, subsection 8-1-1 of the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (or 49 CFR §175.10 domestically within the U.S.).


Back To Spiegel

     The glue producer, as the DER SPIEGEL story points out, was quite concerned about a business requirement that dictated a batch of 50 aerosol cans for Angola be marked in the official Angolan language (Portuguese), but seemed utterly unperturbed, or worse, unaware of the vital Dangerous Goods-/Hazardous Materials-related regulatory requirements, not to mention the terrible dangers at hand in carrying these samples on board as baggage while traveling.
     Under applicable national and international legislation, it is the responsibility of the bonding materials manufacturer to provide Dangerous goods-/Hazardous materials-related information and possibly training.
     It was also pointed out that the sales engineer is a frequent traveler on African itineraries. So the DER SPIEGEL article is correct in questioning the safety- and security-related measures not only on the African airports, but also the European transit hubs.
     There was also some coverage alleging bribes involving customs officials in Lagos, Nigeria.
But taking a wider view, the underlying problem here is far from being a specifically German issue.


Baggage Fire, Corrosives & Lithium

     On January 28th, 2014, a passenger’s bag checked for flight PG931 from Bangkok, Thailand, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, caught fire on the conveyor belt—fortunately before it was loaded onto the aircraft.
     The bag in question contained fertilizer samples in division 4.1.
     On May 29th, 2015, the U.S. FAA proposed a $70,050 civil penalty against the University of Wisconsin-Madison for allegedly violating Hazardous Materials Regulations.
     A university official traveling on behalf of the university had 1.89 liters of ethyl alcohol (a flammable liquid) and 120 milliliters of Epofix hardener (a corrosive material) packed in his baggage, having created an undeclared hazardous material shipment.
     Similar incidents have occurred, including the unauthorized shipping of experimental (unauthorized) Lithium batteries for “research,” the presence of aerosol spray paint for the purpose of repainting helmets in the baggage of an university’s football team trainer, and the carriage of large amount of various chemicals by people on business travel for various purposes.
     Add to that line up illegal fireworks, ammunition, acids, paints, and almost any chemical product imaginable that have been discovered during routine checks of passenger baggage.


How Things Add Up

     In Germany, air transport watchdog LBA (Luftfahrtbundesamt) reported 58,822 dangerous goods-related incidents in 2014 (which include both cargo and passenger-related incidents).


Screeners Ability & Luck

     As security screeners more often than not have not been trained in full compliance with the requirements of the ICAO TI and IATA DGR pertaining to Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials, the ability of these screeners to detect undeclared or hidden dangerous goods within passenger’s baggage is naturally limited.
     A fact often overlooked is that while screeners fulfill a vital security function by working assiduously to assure safety-related requirements are met, at the end of the day success or failure can also depend on sheer luck.
Jens

 

Chuckles For August 6, 2015

 

Less Complex Faster Rates

Dr. Alexis von HoensbroechOliver Evans   “The new pricing structure is uncomplicated and ensures that we are well-positioned for the future, given the changes the markets have undergone,” said Dr. Alexis von Hoensbroech, Lufthansa Cargo board member, Product and Sales.
   In a joint announcement this week, Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss WorldCargo said starting October 25, 2015 pricing for both airlines will consist of just two components: a net rate and an “Airfreight Surcharge.”
   As a result, the different surcharges currently in place, i.e. for fuel and security, will be eliminated.
“We have listened to our customers,” Dr. Alexis said.
   “The net rate will be considerably more important, and we will be able to significantly reduce special processes, such as negative rates, with the lower airfreight surcharge.
   “That cuts down on complexity and makes us faster.”
   “The new airfreight surcharge reflects the volatility of external cost factors beyond the airlines’ control, such as fuel, currency rates, airport charges, and fees. The Airfreight Surcharge will be adjusted whenever one of these external cost factors changes significantly and thus will display necessary price adjustments in a transparent way,” said outgoing Chief Cargo Officer Oliver Evans.
   “This would not have been the case with an all-in rate, which both airlines reviewed in detail.
   “An all-in rate would have been less transparent.”
   Ashwin Bhat has been named as SWISS’s new Head of Cargo, effective October 1. He succeeds Oliver Evans, who is stepping down from the post.



Pertti Thinking Of Handling Generations

At all the recent trade shows and forums, there have been sessions addressing the challenge of training new people for the air cargo business in a way that is cost effective and timely, sidestepping the outmoded practice of traveling in order to receive proper training.
     In Finland, CEO and Founding Partner at Airport College International (airportcollege.com) Pertti Mero thinks he has found a great solution.
     The affable yet quite determined executive insists that he has put his life and considerable record of service as a top industry manager toward education.
     Now he is out to change the way people learn the commercial aviation arts beginning from the ground up.
     “Our focus,” Pertti says, “is always on how we can create something practical, new, and exciting that fulfills our client’s training needs in a cost-effective way.
     “What’s more we are offering training courses that are available worldwide online.
     “Currently we have directed our focus on Ground Handling Training.
     “Today almost anyone who works in airport ground operations must have valid training according to their job description, including the re-current training, which takes place in two- or three-year cycles.
     “At the same time, the financial pressure for training costs is imminent, perhaps stronger than ever before.
     “This was our starting point at airportcollege.com when we decided to start our business two and half years ago.”


e-Education

     “airportcollege.com offers a range of e-Learning courses with different language options.
     “Our online e-learning model covers mandatory ground handling training topics in safety and security.
     “All courses comply with the regulations of international legislations and those established by governing bodies, such as the ICAO and IATA (ISAGO).
     “As a strategic partner of IATA we have access to the latest industry information and are able to have an open dialogue with other members to keep us and our clients updated from that end of the business too.
     “We have designed our training courses and cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) to perfectly fit Ground Handling Agents, and it has been recently audited by airlines.
     “The cloud-based Learning Management System makes it easy to deploy overnight and use as a service.
     “Currently we offer 20 different online e-Learning training courses in safety, security, and service topics (each course length is approximately 40-90 minutes).
     “airportcollege.com also custom designs courses.
     “For the global audience we localize different language versions with text and audio,” Pertti said.
     Pertti Mero gained much of his knowledge hands on, working his way from the bottom to the top for many years before landing at last as Finnair Vice President, Cargo Sales and Marketing, based in Helsinki.
     Like many others in air cargo today, Pertti saw a need and decided to fill it.
     “I wanted to explore new challenges, to form something new to help the industry perform better.
     “Business development and training has always been on my agenda and forming an e-Learning company with focus on aviation and logistics industry seemed a natural extension of my interest.
     “For the past two years we have taken major steps forward to develop Airport College International to become a serious e-Learning services provider in the international arena.”


Knowledge & Connections


     “We have a strong team of professionals with extensive hands-on experience with running successful businesses.
     “We feel that the field of training is an essential part of successful companies and wanted to gather together the experiences of what we have learned during our working life,” says Head of Technology and Quality Ari Ketola.
     “To be able to share knowledge and experience in international sales and marketing, regulatory compliance, instructional and pedagogical design, hands-on training, management of training organizations, e-learning technologies, and standards is an exciting offering, and this is the package we are now offering to our clients,” Pertti Mero told FlyingTypers.


Makes The Case

     “In many quarters all over the world today there are millions of employees that are frequently trained and retrained according to international and company regulations.
     “When well-designed online e-learning products are utilized as either core to training or in support of that effort, the related cost-saving potential is huge, up to 80 percent.
     “airportcollege.com research indicates that employees who are well-trained bring a higher level of job motivation as people simply do things better.
     “The impact on productivity is immediate and long lasting.”


Finland Model To The World


     “We aim to be the global leader,” Pertti Mero said.
     “Our vision is to be the global leader in e-learning for the aviation and logistics industry.
     “We are building global coverage to help our clients to fulfill international training requirements and achieve massive cost savings with our e-learning solutions.
     “We have signed Sales and Service Partner Agreements for several Asian countries and have ongoing negotiation with partners in EMEA and the Americas.”
Geoffrey

 

Tales Of China Clipper 1935
China Clipper flies off into history establishing the first scheduled transpacific air service from USA via Hawaii in 1935.

Aviation lovers—and we suspect that includes quite a few folks who read FlyingTypers—are invited to take a ride back in time to 80 years ago. In 1935 the China Clipper (NC14716), one of three Martin M-130 four-engine flying boats built for Pan American Airways in Middle River, Maryland, inaugurated the first commercial transpacific air service from San Francisco to Manila, connecting the U.S. to Asia.

China Clipper
Elegant detail of China Clipper captured on a plate.

     But the real revenue that paid for that historic first flight was mail and express cargo.
     The “China Clipper” departed Alameda as (FAM 14) on November 22, 1935.
     On November 29, China Clipper reached its destination, Manila, after traveling via Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam, and delivered over 110,000 pieces of mail.
     The crew for this flight included Edwin C. Musick as Chief Pilot.

Time Musick CoverA picture of Capt. Musick in 1935. After the flight of the China Clipper, Capt. Musick was a national hero, featured on the cover of Time Magazine.

     Musick had pioneered routes everywhere, including Latin America, when he served as chief pilot for Ralph O/Neill’s New York, Rio, & Buenos Aires Line, which established routes from New York City to South America in 1928 and later was acquired by Pan Am.
     The navigator aboard China Clipper was Fred Noonan.
     Noonan would disappear a scant two years later, serving a similar function with Amelia Earhart’s doomed attempt to circumnavigate the world aboard a tiny Lockheed 10 that was lost forever in the South Pacific.
     But 80 years ago, the inauguration of ocean airmail service and commercial air flight across the Pacific was a global event for aviation, thrilling millions of people all over the world as constant coverage updated every move from lift off, to island hopping across the vast Pacific Ocean, to the mania aroused after safely landing in Manila Harbor.


In The News


     The San Francisco Chronicle reported:
     “The voyage across the link in the California-Manila route was accomplished in much faster time than Capt. E.C. Musick, skipper of the 25-ton craft, had anticipated.”

China Clipper first day covers
Dips Over Lincoln

     “In about 38 and one-half hours of flying, the China Clipper has crossed nearly 5,200 miles of the 8,000-mile distance between Alameda, Calif., and Manila, end of the present journey to establish transpacific air mail service,” The SFO Examiner said.
     “Mail and supplies for the Wake Airways Station arrived aboard the seaplane which also brought nine employees, who will be stationed here.
     “En route, the plane dipped low over the steamship President Lincoln, which saluted with three whistle blasts.
Fred NoonanIn 2015 Fred Noonan, a little known China Clippers navigator, is better recognized than Musick today. Noonan took off with Amelia Earhart in 1937 in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. The duo disappeared forever.

     “The China Clipper left Alameda Friday afternoon [Nov. 22, 1935], and stopped overnight at Honolulu and Midway and finally at Wake Island and Guam.”
     Here the takeoff from Midway Island is described.
     “At 10:30 a.m. (our time), four hours and a quarter after our takeoff from Midway, we passed the halfway mark on this long voyage to Manila.
     “Picking up our first tail wind of the day only a short time before, we are clicking along at 160 miles per hour.
     “We got up with the gooney birds this morning at a quarter to four, Midway time, and had our breakfast all tucked away before daylight.
    “The lagoon was calm in the tropic dawn as Captain Musick gave our 3,200 horses their heads, and the goonies flapped up with shrill screams at their roar,” SFO Chonicle reported.

Clipper Launch

Dateline Crossed

     Today, millions regularly cross the international dateline, and think nothing of it.
     Perhaps you have to use your imagination to envision the excited clamor of those who witnessed a journey “crossing the line” in 1935.
     “On today’s flight, the international dateline was crossed, and time aboard the four-motored craft jumped ahead one whole day.
     “Ahead of the plane lies a 1,500-mile flight to Guam, last of the island way stations, and then a flight of 1,700 miles into Manila.”

Modern China Clipper
China Clipper II in 1985.

Remembering The China Clipper

     Pan American World Airways managed to stay in business until 1991. Along the way it launched the China Clipper II, fifty years after the epic first flight of that tiny flying boat, which by 1985 was recalled as a journey into a “once upon a time world.”

(Postscript) I can recall, as a U.S. soldier flying off to Vietnam aboard a World Airways DC7 military charter in the late 1960s, that we stopped at Wake Island to refuel.
     Of course, as soldiers destined for a war zone, we all disembarked to get to the bar and drink as much as possible before takeoff to Saigon.
     But I was immediately caught up observing the remnants of the old Pan Am base, and further by the stunning beauty of the island and the deep indigo of the Pacific Ocean enveloping the tiny strip of land.
     I recall experiencing a tropical contact-high after looking around Wake Island that caused me to miss the libations of that tiki bar prior to flight departure.
     Today I can only imagine that China Clipper flight, with an overnight stay in a small hotel and onward journey at 160mph, as described here.
     Happy Birthday, China Clipper, and thanks.

Geoffrey

China Clipper Video


If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers
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Vital Views, 2008, 2007, 1991, 1977

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