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A R C H I V E S
A
Separate, Vital Function “America was all new and very exciting. But what I loved best were the airplanes and the airport. I decided right then and there, I was going to spend my life in aviation.”
It’s a summer Saturday late afternoon at JFK, around 1800 hours. Weekends are different at the airport. Of course, every day there is a lengthy non-stop aerial parade of aircraft from about 1300 to 1500 hours sweeping in from overseas. One of the sports activities enjoyed by airport creatures old at JFK is peering into the sky and down the long line to play name that plane or name that airline. Although business is conducted pretty much the same way every day, weekends in air cargo minus about three quarters of the office staff and truckers and small dispatch vehicles is slower, more relaxed, and on the surface at least, less urgent. Inside Building 151, which was built into a super cargo handling facility from the old Pan Am Hangar 14 Maintenance Building, ten years ago by Japan Airlines Management Group headed up by Rudy Auslander, people are dressed for the weather. Offices are on skeleton staff, lobbies are mostly empty while outside a Mr. Softee ice cream truck is playing music to an empty lot. When it opened, Building 151 was unique. In many ways it still is. The building’s distinctive ‘tower’ contains a unique stacking system that is driven by next generation advanced automation. Daily, thousands of containers for half a dozen carriers are whisked from truck to aircraft and return from this air cargo wonder world which today is a genuine aviation landmark for air shippers. Next to the air traffic control tower, the Building 151 container tower is the tallest structure on any airport. Upstairs, Building 151 includes offices for airlines and other companies involved in air cargo offering vistas of aircraft approaching for landing and inside views of activity upon the facility’s warehouse floor. Down a long, aging carpeted hallway on the second floor of Building 151, after a short 30-degree walk up and around a corner a small office is open full of people. This is where ‘that girl’ Esma Dahbali, the wide-eyed kid who loved the airport first look, landed, as soon as she grew into it. Her company is called Global Aircraft Dispatch Inc. But what is impressive here is the look of the place. It’s all spit and polish. Everybody is in uniform. The people are young and good looking like they just arrived at work out of central casting for one of those early ‘Airport’ movies. As Global staff moves quietly and purposefully about the small room, phones ring and beep while voices crash through a small radio speaker from aircraft out over the ocean and on the ground. Esma Dahbali gets right to the point: “Global Aircraft Dispatch was launched to bring a disciplined, highly professional level of service to the airlines. “Our major customers are the international carriers or airlines, which have opted to separate flight dispatch as a distinct feature of their entire ground services program. There is more respect and wider realization emerging amongst many carriers today, that efficient, well planned flight dispatch is well worth considering as a separate, vital function of doing business, rather than an add-on low priority of overall customer service. “Quick thinking is important for efficient, safe operation of aircraft turnaround. Not only are our people all trained to international airline standards but they also receive regular refresher training. “We are here around the clock, 24/7 providing customized flight folders, an entire menu of personalized services plus flight monitoring. “Pre-flight crew briefings, weight and balance and loadmaster functions are also conducted by Global as part of our aircraft dispatch services. “Also, where some others in our business demand that airline personnel come to them, we have no problem delivering our service right to the customer. “We suspect that the smartly dressed people of Global are a welcome sight as they conduct business at various aircraft boarding areas around JFK. “The truth is, that today travelers want and demand professionalism in every aspect of their airport and onboard experience. Global personnel are all business and stay sharp and focused as they go about their business.” Crew briefings for example are thorough and comprehensive. (Global personnel are completely briefed on all FARS (FAA regulations) and are totally informed and up to speed with RVSM/ETOPS/ATC/ Euro-Control/ATC Filing). “Crews are delivered flight plans not AMS; textual weather charts, piloting charts, high-level sig weather charts, a 24 hour surface weather overview, live satellite images and a current synopsis of winds and temperature aloft. Live satellite and radar (NEXRAD) images are also part of Global’s service package for our clients. “Our loadmaster services include trained and certified hazmat personnel and staff who in their loadmaster regimen are qualified to make sure nothing gets aboard any aircraft that doesn’t belong there. “Unlike some other outfits in the flight dispatch business Global customers, flight personnel, their passengers, and aircraft, do not have to wait while untrained people who take information pertinent to these activities get a certified staff member to sign documents. “All our people have passed muster on all aspects of our business activities before they go online with us.” We wonder who is doing business with Global and if it has been a tough sell preaching a doctrine of added service (and expense) in an otherwise ‘down’ business climate. Esma Dahbali who at this point is making us wish we had an airplane for her group to work over, is all ready for those questions. “We have gone right after the best in the business. Our clients include Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Universal Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways. “All satisfied clients.” In some cases (charters), Global personnel have accompanied flights to conduct multifaceted functions including crew briefing, loadmaster and other activities every step of the journey. “What’s more, we are ready, willing and able to expand our activities to other gateways served by our clients. “We are young, full of vitality and have can-do attitudes and ready to go wherever this airline business that we love, takes us. “There is growing evidence that flight dispatchers which are certified by the FAA are needed more today that any other time in history. “Because of what we do, Global people act as an invisible member of the crew. “There is no question that flight dispatch conducted correctly can short stop an aviation accident.”
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