FT102423

#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE

Vol. 22 No. 37	Tuesday October 24, 2023

     I read the recent article, Flying Cargo Upside Down with a great deal of interest, it is always encouraging to see efforts to introduce new technology into an industry that seems awfully dedicated to maintaining the status quo. And with over 40 years experience of supplying hardware ( ULD) to the industry I am only too aware of the challenges one faces, given the cyclical nature of the cargo when it is booming everybody is too busy to even talk about new technology and when it is busting nobody has any money to do anything, perhaps there is a sweet spot in between . . . I dont think so!
     And there is absolutely no question that the methods by which air cargo is physically handled remain to a great extent firmly in the horse and cart era, with virtually zero change to the entire logistics chain from shipper through to consignee since the advent of the widebodied aircraft five decades ago. This picture says it all, taken within the last five years at Hong Kong airport, this is the face of modern air cargo operations.
     The featured article gives very significant coverage to the handling of the individual packages, hopefully replacing the ubiquitous forklift which contributes to so much of the damage found on ULD, but the story extends out of the cargo terminal and onto the ramp right up to the manner in which aircraft are loaded and here the situation is dire. You see, there has been zero in the way of significant innovation to the systems and procedures used in the loading of cargo holds (see the photos from those days) be they main deck or lower deck, and a brand-new Boeing or Airbus aircraft, being delivered to a customer today will embody technology hardly changed since the 1970s.
     And the real issue here is that this same aircraft will probably still be flying in 2063, 40 years on from now, a situation that condemns the whole industry to never ending cycle of overdependence on manual intervention and the related low productivity.

Here the industry only has its self to blame, when airlines made the decision to outsource their ramp operations to independent ground handlers they simply pushed the problem onto somebody else's plate and told them to get on with it, meanwhile the ground handlers have absolutely zero influence on the source of the problem which is the design configurations of the aircraft holds. Solutions do exist that could deliver an extremely high degree of automation to aircraft loading, but to do so will require a degree of consensus across the fragmented components of the cargo handling industry that this is a necessary development, probably not in my lifetime!!!
Bob Rogers, VP & Treasurer-ULDCARE

  Once hyped as Asia’s largest airport and a dream project of Uttar Pradesh (a province bordering capital Delhi) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Greenfield Jewar Airport in Noida (roughly 90 km from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi), celebrated landing the IATA code recently ‘DXN’.
  The first phase – of four phases – is now projected to be completed by September 2024.
  High hopes for cargo too.
  Christoph Schnellmann, the Chief Executive Officer at Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG brought on to design, build and operate Noida International Airport (NIA) said "cargo will get attention big time".

Multimodal cargo hub, Noida International Airport

  In May this year, Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) and the Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the special purpose vehicle formed by Noida Airport concessionaire Zurich AG, signed a concession agreement to build a state-of-the-art Multi-Modal Cargo Hub (MMCH) at Noida International Airport.
  "The MMCH," Christoph Schnellmann said, "spanning across 87 acres, will comprise an Integrated Cargo Terminal (ICT) and an Integrated Warehousing & Logistics Zone (IWLZ).
  "Our first-of-its-kind cargo hub will seamlessly connect multiple modes of transportation with consolidated ancillary and value-added services, establishing a highly efficient route for cargo throughput across India and abroad. AISATS is designing, building, financing and operating the MMCH.
Nipun Aggarwal

  "AISATS will provide India’s logistics sector with a world-beating cargo processing and transportation grid through the MMCH will help reduce logistics costs significantly, streamline processes for seamless coordination, and bring speed and transparency to the country’s supply chain."
  Nipun Aggarwal, (left) Chairman of AISATS, pointed out that the "MMCH at Noida would play an integral part in providing just-in-time cargo facilities for the North India region. The state-of-the-art infrastructure, value-added services and improved cost efficiency, he said, would have a “knock-on effect” and help increase India’s trade and ease the movement of goods across the country."
  MMCH could act as a catalyst for the proposed economic corridor linking India, the UAE, and Europe.
  The MMCH, according to CEO Schnellmann will have “smart and connected” cargo facilities using IoT, AI, and ML.

When Building 151 on Hangar Road JFK International Airport opened in early 1991, Rudy Auslander having been involved earlier with Japan Airlines Cargo moved to Japan Airlines Systems that built and operated the first vertical logistics transfer facility on an airport anywhere.
JAL 151, located behind the old Pan Am Maintenance Hangar 14 (now JFK HQ The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey) featured an 11-story container storage/retrieval system, and offices for several companies. The tower is an airport landmark, seen in the rear of the aerial photograph.

Dennis Esnes, Barry D. Nassberg, John Gemmell, Michael Duffy, Mike Buckley, Guido DiGiandomenico, Olivier P. Bijaoui, Kazuto Yamamoto, Rudy Auslander.

     In New York City on September 28, 2004, Olivier Bijaoui, president and chief executive officer of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) sat down with Kazuto Yamamoto, Japan Airlines, vice president and general manager cargo the Americas, to sign the multi-year agreement of WFS take over handling and marketing of JAL Management Corp.’s huge building 151/Hangar 14 air cargo complex at JFK International Airport in New York, Mr. Yamamoto declared the event “a new beginning for both companies.”
     “We are very pleased at this new accord, our team is first rate. We eat sleep and drink air cargo with dedication to be the best,” Olivier Bijaoui said.
     At the signing—back row left to right, Dennis Esnes, Regional VP, New York region, WFS; Barry D. Nassberg, Executive VP & CEO, WFS; John Gemmell, Senior VP Sales WFS; Michael Duffy, Senior VP No. America WFS; Mike Buckley, Staff VP & Regional Manager Freight & Mail Eastern Region No. America, Japan Airlines and Guido DiGiandomenico, VP Airline Sales, WFS.
Front Row seated left to right, Olivier P. Bijaoui, President & CEO, WFS; Kazuto Yamamoto, VP & General Manager, Cargo The Americas, Japan Airlines and Rudy Auslander, President, Japan Airlines Management Corp.
     Imagination and will to succeed coupled with the tenacious drive of Japan Airlines Management Corp.’s Rudy Auslander resulted in changing old Pan American Hangar 14 into a cargo and office complex colossus at JFK International Airport, New York.
     Have some lovely memories of our dear friend Vincent Chabrol who for longer than you might have thought possible served as U.S. Chief of Cargo for Royal Air Maroc.
     Vince, a former Seaboard World Airways Cargo pro also was a charter tenant of Building 151 along with his service partner, Marie at Royal Air Maroc.
     Vince is OK, these days living in the Wilds of Manhattan.
     In 2004 Building 151/Hangar 14 handled upward of 200,000 tons annually, about 20% of the gateway’s total throughput with room to go to an excess of 250,000 tons.

      Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) just completed a very successful year-long ACS Truck Slot Management proving program teaming up with Kale Logistics Solutions, (see Donna Mullins story below).
     Now with land scarce, especially at airports, vertical logistics facilities, although slow to develop in USA, after becoming a fact of life in Europe & Asia, are trending up at locations like New York, Chicago, Miami and Seattle and elsewhere.
     For the record, New York has several projects underway including in Brooklyn, The Bronx, off airport at JFK, and elsewhere.
     A New York-based real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL Inc.) that sells and rents verticals just published a report titled “Multi-Story Warehouses and Their Towering Future,” available here.
     While we leave it to you, dear reader to decide if “Warehouse” or “Verticals” is the best way to describe these buildings, our take is that the word “Warehouse” should be ditched when referring to anything at an airport.
     “Warehouse” has always sounded to us in air cargo like "Neverland" for a business that thrives on speed.
     How about "Transfer Facilities or maybe Vertical Transfer to describe?

FlyingTalkers

First Half Post Covid Challenging

Donna Is All Heart
Donna Mullins

     Donna Mullins, Vice President at Kale Logistics Solutions is one of our favorite people.
     She is a great human being, and for years, still continuing rock solid at the Atlanta gateway, always working for the air cargo community.
      Very early during the pandemic, this lady took it upon herself to help out truckers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with shopping bag meals from Ruby's Chicken House (Ruby's is named in memory of Ruby Saggus, Donna’s Mom).
     What Donna did was to distribute at no charge, and unheralded, meals for truckers who were mostly stuck in their trucks with no place to dine.
     So Donna, now part of Kale Logistics, the Mumbai dynamo that under some other great people, including co-founder & CEO Amar More, has figured out how to make things move faster in all phases of air cargo at airports all over the world.
     Donna is once again on the frontline and as per usual is doing things a bit differently.
     Call it "little things mean a lot" or what she does that is always exceptional is never to forget in air cargo, the horse precedes the cart, it isn't heft, it's heart!
     Earlier this month on October 3, Donna Mullins was at JFK Airport celebrating the Kale/ Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) partnership that reached a 100% booking milestone.
     “It was an honor and privilege to host the WFS JFK Building 151 staff and drivers,” Donna said as she delivered a thoughtful and lovely buffet spread for truckers and the WFS staff.
     “The JFK air cargo community has experienced up close and personal the Kale ACS Truck Slot Management appointment system, which interfaced with WFS EPIC, for over a year now on a voluntary basis to make appointments and give advanced shipment information to WFS in JFK.
     “Realizing the efficiencies obtained by having advanced shipment information, WFS made the move to have their first JFK facility go 100% appointment bookings – Congratulations to WFS JFK Building 151," Donna declared.
     “WFS will gradually move to 100% appointment bookings for all their locations and stakeholders (truckers, brokers, and forwarders) are encouraged to register now to make appointments and keep your cargo moving effectively, efficiently, and expeditiously,” Donna said.
     Donna Mullins is coming to an airport near you.
     From the looks of things WFS at JFK is glad she dropped in to say thanks as all said "Hooray for the Buffet."
     In the world right now here is some news that beats a punch in the nose as late October 2023 continues.
     For information about Kale ACS Truck Slot Management contact Donna or info@kalelogistics.com, or Kale Logistics Solutions.

Brief Encounter With
New FIATA President Turgut, Elif, Zeynep, Can Erkeskin

Assuming command of FIATA, top forwarder organization in the world Turgut, his wife Elif, daughter Zeynep and son Can joined the celebration.

     During the FIATA 2023 Congress in Brussels we had the chance to meet new President Turgut Erkeskin and it has always been wonderful to catch up with a long-time friendship. As we are so very busy these days we must be contented with what we can achieve.      This is the short account of our conversation and our own Marco Leonardo Sorgetti reported no small delight to share this news with our readers.
     We asked Turgut what his impression was arriving in Brussels and he told me: “I am looking forward to meeting all delegates from all around the world and discuss topics of economy and logistics, as it is natural. I am also thankful to the host organization for putting together a very rich and relevant agenda with excellent speakers.”
     Then we continued asking Turgut for some more personal impressions and his expectations in the new role. Turgut arrived as President-elect, as he held the only nomination for the high position, in other words the GM was in fact supposed to simply ratify his nomination. He was then elected President of FIATA with a landslide ballot on October 6th during the GM.
We asked Turgut what his impression was as the first FIATA President from Turkey, a country which was able to host the FIATA WC twice in this millennium. This is his reply: “Of course I am really proud as this is the culmination of many years’ investment, not only on a personal level, as is natural, but also as UTIKAD, the federation I am representing that has managed to become a significant contributor to FIATA’s success in recent years. I am therefore proud of both results, perhaps even a bit more regarding our collective achievement than at personal level.”
     We also challenged Turgut with a question that requires some insight in FIATA, as the transition from Zurich to Geneva and the Reset program were both big decisions. My friend Turgut, who is a man with natural disposition to serendipity, said: “I happened to find myself in the right place at the right time, I tried to contribute with good advice, but in the end it was not I who moved the furniture. Obviously it was a big step, I am thankful for all the work done. It was not always a spoonful of sugar, but it worked in the end. Now it will be just a question of working hard and promoting our message within the constituency. You have heard the catchphrases at the session: ‘digital transition, greener and environmentally friendly modus operandi, strong international relationships with other peer organizations in the sector’.
     “In a nutshell,” Turgut said, “this is the pathway.”

     We were in Brussels attending the FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations' World Congress 2023. Marco Leonardo Sorgetti was with the always delightful Kaoutar Guessous, Vice Chairman of the AFFM – Association des Freight Forwarders du Maroc, who with her countrymen and others sprung into action sending help, including a personal donation by King Mohammed VI of MAD 1 billion ($100 million) to the special relief fund for the victims of the September 8 earthquake.
     The devastating 6.8 earthquake struck near the town of Oukaïmedene in the Atlas Mountains, a rural area about 50 miles southwest of Marrakech.
     The quake had a depth of about 16 miles with shaking reported throughout the country as well as in Algeria, Portugal and Spain.
     But the impact was most severely felt in the Atlas Mountains where over 3000 people were killed and over 5,000 were injured.
     “We are facing this disaster with faith, hope and solidarity,” Kaoutar said.
     “There is a sense of countrywide community in Morocco these days. People are still wearing red to share our sympathy with the ones in the mountains who suffered.
     “Millions of dollars have been raised and relief supplies are pouring in as more is coming to aid those in need.
     “As far as the logistics industry is concerned,” Kaoutar declared, “the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence is doing a good job, especially at getting help to the affected areas by reducing truck bottlenecks on the roads and delivering the goods needed using alternative modes.
     “Morocco has very old and historic towns and is not known as an earthquake region so we suffered much, however architects and builders around the country are volunteering to reconstruct stronger.

CAS & RAK Spared

     “Casablanca and the more urban areas of Morocco were spared and are still open for business as the seasons move forward, especially for weddings and other events, we need tourism to continue to support our efforts to rebuild,” Kaoutar Guessous said.
     Here's looking at you, people of Morocco!

If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers Access complete issue by clicking on issue icon or Access specific articles by clicking on article title
Vol. 22 No. 34 Conveying Cargo Upside Down	Vol. 22 No. 35 FIATA Meets & Brussels Sprouts Chuckles for September 30, 2023 Predicted India Third Largest Economy Beatles & Jim Larsen	Vol. 22 No. 36 New President At FIATA Chuckles for October 11, 2023 Quikjet Takes Its Time A Global Enterprise Of Serious People

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