Longtime President of the Air Forwarders Association Brandon Fried is one air cargo executive holding steady in a world of change. The unflappable Fried seems to transcend time.
     While it has become in fashion to flip and change top executives regularly at other industry associations, here remains the immovably “Steady Brandon.”
     Brandon, it seems, is always among us or operating from the suite of AfA offices in Washington, D.C., day after day, year after year.
     In a sea of turbulent change, a steady hand in the cockpit can be viewed as a good thing in 2015.
     So as the autumn season kicks off, here is Brandon talking about what’s up, new, and next for the ever upward AfA.
     There is even a pair of friendly St. Bernards in this story.
     No matter what you think about giving up fifteen minutes of your busy time to hear somebody talk end-to-end about freight forwarding, it’s time to suspend disbelief.
     Brandon, who loves and likes what he does, gets centerstage.

Top AfA Priority

     There are important adaptations on the horizon for AfA, involving additional responsibilities for forwarders that come with serious consequences. “We are expecting significant changes to both import and export regulations, making it important for freight forwarders to understand and make necessary preparations. In addition to the ongoing Air Cargo Advanced Screening (ACAS) program, focusing on preloading advanced data targeting before departure for shipments coming to the United States, there is also an export pilot program that may result in forwarders having to take an active part in submitting house airway bill data to the government before flight departure. This has always been the responsibility of the airlines post departure, but there is some discussion that forwarders may have to perform the task before shipments are tendered to the carrier. We anticipate that CBP intends to institute a penalty regime for non-filings or incorrect filings. What this means for forwarders is that for the first time there could be a surety bond required to file export shipment data.
     “We are also anticipating a change to the TSA security program governing Indirect Air Carriers now that the new administrator has come to the agency. This has been a long anticipated change with several positive developments. AfA and other stakeholder organizations have actively engaged TSA on these issues and we expect a positive outcome.”

Doing LAX   A forwarder regulatory panel earlier this month in Los Angeles, where AfA brought people from Washington and the local area to discuss anticipated regulatory import and export changes as well as local issues vital to air cargo at LAX. Panelists included (LtoR) Mercury Air Cargo's John Peery, Janel Group's Vince Iacopella, AfA's Brandon Fried, A4A's Liz Merritt, and CFI's Chris Connell.   American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Sterling Transportation sponsored the AfA event.

2015 Accomplishments

     “Our extensive local engagement continues throughout the United States with visits to air cargo associations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas. We’ve also played an active role in engaging in local issues including the Chicago O’Hare airport congestion problem, where we participated in a town hall meeting attended by more than 100 forwarders, truckers, airlines, ground handlers, and public officials. We also just held a very successful regulatory issues panel for forwarders in Los Angeles on September 17th that featured experts from Washington and the local LAX air cargo community addressing national and local issues.
     “You may recall that the Governor of New York suggested that moving air cargo away from JFK to Stewart Airport outside Poughkeepsie was a sound way to handle airport congestion in New York City. The Airforwarders Association quickly mobilized, not only providing media interviews, but also engaging the Governor’s office directly. We are pleased to report that as of now, the plan has not seen any further traction and the JFK air cargo community can look forward to remaining at the airport and contributing its ideas for improvement at JFK.
     “We are really looking forward to continuing our outreach to local universities and colleges discussing the air cargo industry and freight forwarding with students. This past year we were privileged to lecture at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach and at two campuses of the University of Maryland in Baltimore and outside Washington, D.C. You would be impressed to see the bright faces of students when they realize how exciting freight forwarding, air cargo, and logistics can be.
     “We continue to play an active role in Federal Advisory Committees and hold seats on those advising the Transportation Security Administration Administrator, the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and the Secretary of Commerce. These appointments have been extremely beneficial in providing the freight forwarder point of view to the government. AfA’s very active Regulatory Compliance Committee continues to identify, evaluate and research issues for our ongoing involvement in these committees.
     “AfA has developed a presence on Capitol Hill thanks to our Government Relations Director Clint Fisher who continues to keep us engaged not only with important Members of Congress but key legislative committees as well.
     “Finally, we have spent a great deal of time working with TSA on the run-up to IACSSP Change 6 to make the program more effective and reflective of today’s security and commercial realities. We are cautiously optimistic.”
     Brandon evaluates the health of the air forwarding industry in 2015 in terms of “encouraging signs of improvement,” with “the spring west coast port issues [having] certainly helped bolster air cargo volumes significantly earlier this year. Now that the situation has been resolved, volumes have stabilized but we can always see more improvement. The port situation really demonstrated the need for our maritime customers to always have a secondary strategy in the event of such delays. Happily, our members were able to assist not only by redirecting shipments to other ports but utilizing air cargo as a hedge against the slowdown itself.”

AirCargo 2016

     “AirCargo 2016 will be in Phoenix on June 8-10. The planning process is in full swing with several great programming enhancements, beginning with our annual women’s networking event where we continue the tradition of speakers and panelists addressing issues affecting women in air cargo. Our program will also feature interesting sessions focusing on drone use in air cargo, driverless truck delivery, and how services such as Uber may impact and change the shipping of cargo. The program will also feature presentations from TSA and CBP leadership to discuss important regulatory initiatives and sessions on cyber security and the impact of e-commerce on the air cargo supply chain. Back by popular demand, we are also featuring our panel of lawyers who provide free informative legal advice for those in attendance.”
     Having been atop AfA for some time, Brandon’s contributions to the organization and the air cargo industry are many, but he still considers himself as a student of the business, approaching issues with an open mind that is ready to learn new things.
     Brandon smiles and says, “It has been a fantastic ten years for me personally and I hope also for our organization. I consider myself a ‘work in progress,’ always trying to learn more ways I can help our industry improve. I am fortunate to have met and worked with some remarkable individuals who are extremely intelligent and knowledgeable about our industry and continue to learn from them daily.      "Our Board of Directors under the leadership of Chairman Chris Connell, president of Commodity Forwarders, is very engaged in our active agenda and remains extremely dedicated to AfA. Airforwarders Directors are some of the hardest working people you will meet, often receiving little acknowledgement for their dedication and effectiveness.
     “As for my future, this has been the most enjoyable job I have ever had and I remain excited to get into the office every morning and disappointed to leave my desk at night. Not too many people can say that about what they do.”
     Asked to specifically address his priorities, Brandon’s priorities for the future involve enlarging AfA’s scope around the world and strengthening its partnerships with other industry associations. “My immediate plans are to assist this organization by expanding its presence and footprint not only in Washington but throughout the United States and around the world. I have been asked to participate in a panel next month in Shanghai, China, and plan to seek even more of these international engagements if asked. I also look forward to working with partner associations including TIACA, IATA, Airlines for America and others in achieving a better understanding of industry challenges while advancing forwarder interests.”
     With so much at stake and so much on his plate, and having successfully managed this juggling act for a decade, it’s no surprise Mr. Fried has found a way to make time for both work and leisure. “While we as a family have enjoyed a yearly tradition of vacationing in Kennebunkport, Maine, this summer interrupted that pattern when we spent the time in Hong Kong. My very understanding wife and sons even allowed me to take a few hours to tour the exciting and impressive Hong Kong airport air cargo facility. I suppose that’s what an air cargo enthusiast loves to do on vacation.
     “I also spend my spare time tinkering with my antique car, taking care of our two large St. Bernards, and pursuing other aviation related pursuits, including airport visits and enjoying the company of fellow car and plane enthusiasts. I have two favorite cities, Shanghai and San Francisco, but it is always a great feeling to return home to Washington where I was born and my family resides. I love all types of food, and the time in Hong Kong heightened my interest in dim sum and when traveling, I make it a point to try and search for the best places that serve it in each city.”
Geoffrey/Flossie

   Finnair could be the first to operate Airbus A350 service to the U.S. if plans to fly an A350-900 to New York JFK before the end of 2015 are realized.
   FlightGlobal reports “discussions on possible start dates are ongoing between the carrier and JFK officials, with a view to beginning services in December, according Rikke Munk Christensen, Finnair's head of traffic planning, at World Routes 2015 in Durban.”
   “She declines to say definitively that the flights will begin before the end of the year, saying only that more details will be available in two to three weeks,” FlightGlobal said.
   The first Finnair A350 will be delivered in Toulouse, France, on October 7.

   “Logistics is not a ripple; it is the backbone of trade and trade is at the very source of prosperity, so the place logistics will take in the implementation agenda will be crucial for sustainable development,” said FIATA Sec. Gen. Marco Sorgetti, as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Goals held in New York (September 25-27) adopted 17 Goals and 169 Targets put on the agenda for review.
   “The day did not disappoint, as the UN SDG Summit unanimously adopted the proposal, the impact of which echoed around the room and all around the world,” Sorgetti added.
   “FIATA highly encourages Member States to realize the importance by enhancing logistics connectivity throughout their economic plans,” he added.

   Yesterday’s blood moon lunar eclipse was a treat for the senses. In China the Mid-Autumn Festival, the second most important festival after the Spring Festival, was celebrated in tandem with the rare blood moon, making this year's festival an especially sacred event. On Mid-Autumn night, the harvest moon is the brightest and fullest of the year. The festival is also known as the "Day of Reunion" and the "Moon Festival." The Chinese flock home from every corner of the country and the world for family reunions. Mooncakes composed of red beans or lotus seeds are served for the holiday. The circle is a revered shape in Chinese culture, symbolizing unity, so the sharing of mooncakes among family is a time-honored and important tradition celebrating familial ties.
   In lieu of a delicious mooncake, we send to you and yours this Mid Autumn Festival playlist of songs to help ring in the new season. Think of it as breaking bread with loved ones, in musical form.
Flossie