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The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,066

3 February 2020

A visit to Emirates SkyCargo

Airbus’s bigger Beluga takes to the sky

Page 6

INSIDE AOG INCIDENT IN BOTSWANA

POL-MARE, a Connecta network member in Poland, in co-operation with PGF Consultants, Pangea member in South Africa, have recently .... PAGE 2

START OF WINGS FOR AID TOUR

REACHING people in inaccessible areas to provide them with life-saving supplies is a significant issue. Dutch start-up Wings for Aid has ... PAGE 3 SEKO LOGISTICS PROMOTES

he BelugaXL, which can carry A350 XWB wings and has a maximum payload of 51 tonnes, has gone into service for Airbus. The aircraft is the first of six that will replace the smaller BelugaST by 2023. The aircraft is 63m long and 8m wide and has the world’s largest cargo bay cross-section. It is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, which give it a range of 4,000 km (2,200nm), compared with the ST’s 2,778 km (1,500nm). Officially, the aircraft is an

A330-743L, developed from the forward section of an A330-200 and cargo floor of the 200F with the rear section of the A330-300. Like the BelugaST, the aircraft will operate from 11 destinations in Europe. The BelugaXL’s maiden flight was in 2018, followed by more than 200 flight tests covering a total of 700 flight hours. It was awarded Type Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency in November last year. The ST was originally named

the Super Transporter before it acquired its name because of its resemblance to the beluga whale. Airbus has enhanced this link with cartoon-like details to the fuselage of the XL. The ST entered service in 1995 to transport wings, fuselage and other parts from Airbus factories to aircraft assembly lines in Toulouse, Hamburg and the A400M military-transport centre in Seville. It is a A300-600ST developed from the A300-600 wide-body airliner.

Breaking News: On January 29, BA suspended China flights over coronavirus outbreak until further notice

SEKO Logistics has promoted Brian Bourke to the new post of chief growth officer. Responsible for the acceleration of SEKO’s organic ... PAGE 4

How we reported the first Airbus BelugaXL rolling out of the paint shop in July, 2018.

ON THE CLOCK

LONG-ESTABLISHED companies have long-established business practices that have served well over the years. Monitoring employees’ ... PAGE 5

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Emirates marks 20 years of operations to Bahrain ON 25 January 2000, Emirates took off from Dubai International Airport headed for Bahrain. When the B777-200 landed, it marked a major milestone for the airline – its first flight to the country. Emirates’ four daily flights, with a SkyCargo bellyhold capacity of up to 23 tonnes per flight on the Boeing 777300ER, have helped to facilitate the carriage of close to 130,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Bahrain over the last five years.

Tigers Australia boosts e-commerce processing capacity with new omni-channel facility in Sydney

New Deutsche Post DHL Group podcast launched

“LIVING Logistics” is Deutsche Post DHL Group’s new podcast series, which premiered on January 24, the International Day of Education. Starting with five episodes, the first series centred on corporate responsibility, sustainability and employee volunteering across the company and is produced and presented entirely by group employees. The first episode focused on employee volunteer work in the fields of disaster relief and social integration.

CML wins BIFA Staff Development award

AWARD-winning warehousing and eCommerce solutions provider Core Management Logistics (CML) won the Staff Development award at this year’s British International Freight Association (BIFA) Freight Service Awards. Over 500 individuals attended the ceremony with Ade Adepitan, one of the UK’s most well-known Paralympians and broadcasters, hosting the awards and announcing the winners. The Staff Development award is a hotly contested category, with the judges choosing CML as an outright winner, as the company recognises the impact of training on an employee’s growth and wellbeing with a holistic view to staff development and a dedicated purpose-built training centre on site. Michelle Billings, training and development manager at CML, commented, “I am thrilled to be part of a team that has won the BIFA Staff Development award and pleased that CML has had the opportunity to showcase how it truly believes investing in training and development will benefit not only the business but its employees. One size doesn’t fit all, so CML has a blended learning approach to ensure all employees have the opportunity to learn and develop in a way that suits their needs.“

igers Australia has opened a new omni-channel facility in Yennora, Sydney, Australia to meet rising demand in domestic and cross-border e-commerce for B2B, B2C fulfilment and retail scan pack. The omni-channel warehouse is fitted with Tigers’ Automated Transport Sortation System and SmartHub: Connect (SH:C) technologies that enable customers to manage orders and view their inventory remotely. “The way we all shop is changing and will continue to change,” said Frank Cafasso, managing director (MD) Tigers Australia. “The Yennora facility will keep Tigers

AoG incident in Botswana solved with forwarder co-ordination

ol-Mare, a Connecta network member in Poland, in co-operation with PGF Consultants, Pangea member in South Africa, have recently co-ordinated an Aircraft on Ground (AoG) shipment of special aeronautic lifters for raising an Embrayer E190 aircraft stacked in Botswana. The elevators were necessary for urgently repairing the aircraft. Pol-Mare’s operations team had to build special size pallets because the lift leg spacing was over two metres.

mployees of XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of transport and logistics solutions, helped families in need over the holiday season by delivering more than seven tonnes of food to 35 UK food banks. The donation is equivalent to providing an estimated 9,500 meals for vulnerable people across the UK. Over 8,700 XPO employees supported the initiative by collecting or donating food, raising funds or volunteering at

ACW 3 FEBRUARY 2020

agile in adapting to the evolving e-commerce market.” “The new warehouse’s upgraded capabilities will allow us to facilitate a variety of storage mediums, and with its centralised processing area, the facility will offer increased scalability as the market grows.” The facility expands Tigers’ processing capacity at its Sydney operations to 17,000 pallet locations. “E-commerce in Australia will increase not only for domestic but also international (cross-border) trade, and our new Sydney facility is expected to handle an initial 20 per cent of our B2C e-commerce traffic, with

predicted yearly increases,” added Cafasso. The facility will process a range of consumer goods including, cosmetics, apparel, giftware, and homeware among others. The facility is part of Tigers’ two-year strategy to invest in e-commerce and B2B verticals, and similar facilities are planned for construction in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. SH:C is the world’s first combined freight, e-commerce, and logistics portal, which gives customers end-to-end visibility of the supply chain globally, from transport, to e-commerce fulfilment delivering cost-effective and customisable solutions.

They organised the appropriate packaging and inland transport in Poland up to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). At the arrival of the cargo at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), PGF Consultants arranged the Customs clearing and reception of the goods. Straight after, they moved and delivered all items to Air Botswana dependencies. The elevators arrived safely in place and right in time for the aircraft to be repaired and returned to service

local food banks. This was the fifth consecutive food drive for the company and set a new record for its annual United in Giving campaign. “XPO’s donations have enabled us to take care of vulnerable people,” said Wendy White, Clifton foodbank co-ordinator. “As part of the Trussell Trust Network of foodbanks, we have seen our figures multiply from this time last year. We supported 82 families in the 12 days

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leading up to the holiday season, and we were able to help the homeless and organisations such as the Refugee Centre with several soup kitchens.” Malcolm Wilson, CEO at XPO Logistics Europe, said, “During the past five years, we have donated more than 32 tonnes of food through our United in Giving campaign. This has provided about 39,000 meals for vulnerable individuals in our communities.”

Start of Wings For Aid world tour in Curaçao

Award winning delivery box to be integrated in cargo drone system in 2020

REACHING people in inaccessible areas to provide them with life-saving supplies is a significant issue. Dutch start-up Wings For Aid has developed an innovative approach to this ‘last-mile’ problem, designing self-landing delivery boxes for unmanned aircraft. In mid-January, it started its world tour in Curaçao with a demonstration flight. The aim of the world tour is to inform global stakeholders and to test-drive operational procedures. Later this year, the organisation plans to launch a new remotely piloted aircraft with increased payload capacity. Starting off in the Caribbean with a demonstration flight on the Wacawa military ground in Curaçao, the tour will next lead to Africa. Wings For Aid will participate in the African Drone Forum 5 - 7 February in Rwanda and demonstrate the delivery system there. The tour is based on the different logistic challenges each region faces to ensure the best implementation. “We are building up our international network to become a cargo drone airline for emergency aid logistics. With our system we can provide thousands of people in need with food, water or any other life-saving supplies. Humanitarian actors can use our service, when other means of transport are not available, too expensive or

too dangerous. During the world tour we want to demonstrate our work and show the logistical impact of our system”, said Barry Koperberg, founder of Wings For Aid. After years of conceptual work and perfection of the service, the Dutch organisation will become fully operational in 2020. Wings For Aid will attend various forums, exhibitions and conferences worldwide targeting specifically the areas where the service would be of need. In mid-2020 a new remotely piloted aircraft will be introduced, increasing the number of boxes carried per drone from six to eight. One

aircraft can carry 160 kg of payload and drop the carton boxes with pin-point accuracy bridging distances up to 250 km. The boxes are designed to land upright and absorb the impact to sustain content integrity. Wings For Aid has chosen Rhenus Air & Ocean as its official logistics partner. Rhenus supports Wings For Aid globally in getting the delivering system to the areas in need as quickly and efficiently as possible, including the world tour. Both parties signed a co-operation agreement in July 2019. The project has won the Sustainability Award of The International Air Cargo Association.

Dachser expands its logistics centre in Hof LOGISTICS provider Dachser is stepping up its contract logistics activities in the Upper Franconia region of Germany and moving into a new warehouse in the town of Hof. The warehouse will provide space for around 39,000 pallets and have 47 docking bays. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2020. Located on the outskirts of Hof since 2008, offers a 13,800 sq m transit terminal and 11,800 sq m of warehouse space with 35,000 high-bay pallet spaces. The expansion also includes offices and communal areas covering a total ground area of 900 sq m. “Our new multi-user warehouse next to the existing logistics centre will offer space for us to provide contract logistics services for a medium-sized customer from the DIY and gardening

The UK’s leading independent freight forwarding and logistics company says its clients have noted a significant increase in the number of tenders and preferred supplier qualification applications that now ask whether they have AEO accreditation. Davies Turner chairman Philip Stephenson says that he believes that concerns over the likely outcome of the Brexit negotiations is fuelling interest in AEO from companies that want to know whether accreditation will be of benefit if those negotia-

“The 777X flew beautifully, and today’s testing was very productive,” said Capt Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot for Boeing Test & Evaluation.

Bringing down CO2 at MUC

THE international climate protection organisation CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) has again recognised Munich Airport for its highly effective climate protection efforts. For the third consecutive year, it has achieved “Leadership Level” and earned an “A-” rating in the “Climate Change” category. CDP collects data on climate change measures by companies and assigns ratings between “A” and “D-“ With an A- rating, Munich Airport is among the top 8% in its category, thus scoring well above average among its international peers.

And the winner is ...

sector for example,” says Klaus Neubing, general manager of the Hof logistics centre, about the expansion of business at the location. Pan-European project developer and logistics specialist Verdion carried out the construction work, and Dachser will be able to move into the building in autumn 2020. “This expansion marks the next important

step in our work with one of our major DIY customers in the region,” says Alexander Tonn, managing director European logistics Germany, who is responsible for Dachser’s industrial goods business in Germany. “Together, we’re putting in place a sustainable, growth-oriented logistics concept in Hof,” he says.

Davies Turner launches AEO consultancy services DAVIES Turner is now offering consultancy services on the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme following a surge in enquiries from existing and potential clients.

THE new Boeing 777X jetliner took to the skies on Saturday, January 25, entering the next phase of its rigorous test programme. Based on the popular 777 and with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, the 777X took off in front of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 local time for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle’s Boeing Field.

tions do not deliver the frictionless borders that are being sought. Stephenson says: “As we’ve seen so far, there still appears to be uncertainty ahead regarding Brexit, and this could impact logistics especially. “With further disruption and delays, new regulations and a potential diplomatic breakdown between the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the EU, there does seem to be some very real threats posed to this particular industry.” “As a company, we were a very early adopter of the AEO programme. In April 2008, Davies Turner Air Cargo, our air freight subsidiary, was one of the first businesses anywhere, to gain full AEO accreditation as a stand-

alone operation, with Davies Turner achieving full certification (Type F) for all Group services including air freight, ocean freight, overland trail-

er or intermodal services, Customs warehousing, supply chain management and project forwarding two years later.”

DHL Freight, one of the leading providers of road freight services in Europe, is taking the first major step towards creating a single Transport Management System (TMS) for all DHL Freight operations throughout Europe. The IT system, called EVO as a reference to “evolution,” combines all functions for core business operations. As a first major milestone, EVO has now been implemented in all terminals in France. Turkey is set to be the next point of implementation.

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ROCK-IT Cargo, a global provider of logistics services to live event shippers, has been honoured with the 2019 Parnelli Freight Forwarder of the Year Award. Rock-it non-executive chairman and outgoing CEO David Charles Bernstein was at the 19th Parnelli Awards Gala in Anaheim, California on Friday, January 17 to receive the award from host John Waite: “It is indeed a great honour to accept this award on behalf of the Rock-it family. It was our privilege to work with Rick O’Brien, also known as Parnelli, who exemplified what we strive to be: a best in class, have fun, get it done, no matter what, cast of characters.” Bernstein continued: “Many thanks again to all of the professionals who have, and continue to rely on Rock-it, 24/7, 365 for 42 years and counting.” Parnelli Award winners are nominated and voted for by subscribers to Projection, Lights & Staging News and Front of House magazines, overseen by a board of advisors. Rock-it Cargo was up against six nominated companies in the Freight Forwarding Category. ACW 3 FEBRUARY 2020

Rhenus: the work of past, present and future

he Rhenus Group, one of the leading international forwarding specialists, has had a successful year, with strong growth and major developments, and no indication of slowing down. Following a period of substantial investment in global acquisitions including The PSL Group (UK), World Net Logistics (South Africa), Rodair (Canada), and Freight Logistics (USA), Rhenus also went through a

significant digital transformation. Last year saw Rhenus UK’s new IT Portal designed and implemented, giving customers the option to book shipments straight from a quotation using its web order service. This allows customers to create simple templates, print labels, access loading lists and more, all while using the Rhenus traditional track and trace service.

Automation was, and continues to be, an area of significant growth for the Rhenus Group with its Tilburg facility. BREEAM named the warehousing location the world’s most sustainable building, which fits the digital integration vision of Rhenus. Containing nineteen robots handling the storage and picking of high-quality products for various sectors and customers, the AutoStore system from Swisslog is connected to Rhenus’ warehouse and transport management systems. In addition to this, Rhenus has been investing in its warehousing facilities and value-added services in the UK through its acquisition of

warehousing and eCommerce solution specialist, Core Management Logistics (CML). In another development, 2019 saw Rhenus Germany receive its first e-trucks – a greener alternative to the traditional container trucks. In tune with this, Rhenus reached a new sustainable milestone when it released the first-ever worldwide carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction programme for air freight, RHEGREEN. A free-of-charge service, offering customers the opportunity to choose a ‘greener’ aircraft for their shipment of cargo by air freight, offering CO2 emission reductions between 10 and 40 percent. Spencer Davern, director of air and ocean at Rhenus Logistics UK, said: “A key topic for Rhenus UK in 2019, and a particular focus for the year ahead, has been its temperature control division. Last year saw us transport a number of vital goods to a variety of global businesses, including 101 handmade chocolate stiletto shoes from Fulham to Dubai for Arab Fashion Week. With Rhenus continuing to expand globally and customer demand for international shipping growing, 2020 is set to be an interesting year for not only us but the entire logistics industry.”

THE Multi-Skill Development Centre of Allcargo Logistics, India’s largest end-to-end private sector logistics solutions provider, has been accredited with the 5-star category by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC),, the top status for a Skill Development Centre. The centre operates under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) model and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) flagship scheme of the Union Government’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). “Pro-industry reforms and policy inter-

ventions have placed Indian logistics on an exponential growth curve. A trained human resource pool with the requisite sector-specific skills is pivotal to sustaining the growth trajectory. We remain committed to plugging the skill gaps in the industry and enhancing the job prospects of employable youth through industry-specific training,” stated Dr Nilratan Shende, GM – CSR, Allcargo Logistics. Around 450 students had enrolled at the Allcargo Multi-Skill Development Centre. Trainers at the centre are Logistics Skill Council (LSC) TOT certified.

Allcargo Logistics’s Multi-Skill Development Centre accredited with 5-star grading

Seko Logistics promotes Bourke to chief growth officer SEKO Logistics has promoted Brian Bourke to the new post of chief growth officer. Responsible for the acceleration of SEKO’s organic growth, Brian will drive SEKO’s demand generation, revenue management and corporate marketing and communications initiatives. In his new role, based at SEKO’s corporate headquarters in Chicago, Brian will work closely with Terry Unrein, chief commercial officer, David Emerson, VP sales & marketing EMEA, and SEKO’s global sales teams. James Gagne, president and CEO of SEKO Logistics, said: “This is a very important appointment in the natural evolution

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of our organisation. Under Brian’s leadership, we will accelerate our growth through new demand generation programs to achieve strong organic growth, alongside our continuing acquisition focus. Part of the responsibilities also includes assuring good product and market fit for our clients with a strong focus on yield management. Brian is a proven and respected member of our executive team and, in his new role, he is tasked with building and leading a team to drive our growth to the next level. Brian has also brought many unique solutions to our clients that we have deployed at SEKO that are best-in-class.”

On the clock James Evans, senior account manager at STANLEY Security, puts the case for modern Time & Attendance systems

ong-established companies often have long-established business practices that have served well over the years. Monitoring employees working hours using traditional clocking in/out systems that are then recorded manually to a spreadsheet is one such case in hand. It works smoothly, so why go to the expense and endure the upheaval of implementing a Time & Attendance software-based system? Yes, a Time & Attendance system does come with a cost attached, but that cost is low and the return on investment (ROI) is fast. And no, there really is no upheaval involved if you pick your system and supplier well; you won’t need to change your existing accountancy etc. software and don’t even need to change how you do your reporting. What’s more, a Time & Attendance system brings a host of benefits that you may not even be aware of that can have a positive impact on your business. These systems automatically calculate employees’ attendance hours, overtime, holidays and absences - all exportable to payroll in minutes - and provide evidence in proof of compliancy with working time regulations. A basic system will include a terminal/readers and software. The terminal/readers are used to capture the individual employee’s clocking in/out data and are available in card or fob and biometric formats, depending on your requirements and the nature of the site and activities. Biometric readers based on fingerprint and eye scanning, are increasingly popular as they avoid issues such as lost cards or tags and forgotten pin numbers, or the sharing of these with colleagues to clock them in/out in their absence. The eye-scanning readers have come down dramatically in price and increased in reliability, now making them a good option for sites prone to dirt and dust. The software, which makes all the relevant calculations, is either placed on your computers or can be browser-based.

so extending the Time & Attendance system to them through a mobile app has been hugely popular. Employees cannot only enter in their times but also their exact location and any tasks they are carrying out. They can also request holidays and perform other functions quick and simply. Cost centring: for companies that require job costs to be allocated to a specific project or budget, or to be invoiced out, a Time & Attendance system is now almost essential as it provides details of the true cost and not just to the nearest hour or so; plus there is evidence to verify it. This has proven popular in logistics. Presence Indicator Panel: this shows in real-time who is currently present and who’s not, which is ideal for fire role call. Automatic Payroll reporting: as well as calculating employee hours in real-time, Time & Attendance systems also come with full reporting and exporting features, enabling you to interface with your external payroll service provider. Time & Attendance systems may not be new, but the increased functionality that has been added to them over recent years has been a real driving factor in their uptake. What’s more, new features are being added on a fairly regular basis. A manual approach to Time & Attendance is like being on a winding country lane – it’s nice, but takes a while to get to your destination - when your business could be on the highway to arrive in half the time and without any wrong turns!

Pays to be accurate

By far the greatest benefit of moving to a modern Time & Attendance system is accuracy. Individual employee data is monitored and calculated in real-time down to the second, including hours worked, breaks, overtime, absences and allowances. Every type of work pattern and schedule can be recorded, including flexitime. Tracking and recording such information manually opens up the potential for both false reporting and human error which can have serious consequences for a business. Furthermore, you are never going to be able to obtain the same level of detail if you remain with a manual process. In the logistics sector, for example, drivers frequently work outside of office hours. You have to take their word for when their shift ended. Whilst most people are honest, there is always those few that go against the grain. Perhaps you need to give them access to a clocking off facility inside the building, which compromises your security and is inconvenient all round. Employing a modern Time & Attendance system enables the driver to clock out through an external electronic reader; quick, simple, accurate. Time & Attendance systems have been around for a while; here’s the latest features that are proving most popular with users. Time and Attendance mobile app: remote workers, including drivers, are not able to clock in/out through an onsite reader,

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ACW 3 FEBRUARY 2020

Emirates SkyCargo and Duba

n the 35 years since the founding of Emirates Airline, there has been six US presidents and seven prime ministers of the United Kingdom but only two individuals in charge of the cargo arm of the airline. This has given the operation unprecedented stability, according to Nabil Sultan Al Murr, current senior vp – Cargo, successor to industry notable Ram Menen; in setting a path for the division, he is very much his own man when it comes to facing the challenges of the 2020s. He says: “This decade is about a new beginning for air cargo. I see three new challenges facing the industry. Firstly smaller shipments, secondly demands for faster transits and thirdly, the growth and growth of eCommerce.” In terms of cargo, not only are many items, such as electronics and communication items

getting smaller, but quantities ordered from manufacturers are also reducing. Retailers are now more likely than ever simply to be sent an early, smaller consignment by airfreight with further items sent by integrators. This is coupled with growing demands for ever-faster shipments. Now people are looking to demand next day delivery where once before they would not have.” Something else he believes SkyCargo must contend with is the accelerating rate of change visible in the industry. He says: “We are now seeing changes that took fifty years now happening in ten.” Al Murr is also proud to note the relative importance of SkyCrago and its operations to the bottom-line of the wider group. He says: “We account for around 15% of group

ACW editor James Graham was exclusively invited to sp with executives and managers of Emirates SkyCargo at th Dubai. No questions were off-limits. Through meeting w professionals, a picture formed of a cargo operation that very much embracing the 21st century.

Al Murr revenue. However, of that, almost 70% is profit.” He is equally proud of the fact that SkyCargo has nationals from some 160 countries working with it and a 40% female workforce. “A number of our country cargo managers are female,” he notes. It is important to him and his staff that the makeup of employees mirrors the melting pot of nationalities that make up the modern Dubai. The over-riding key to Emirates SkyCargo’s operations in Dubai is that two international airports function as one. While others have tried two hub operations, only Emirates seems to have succeeded.

Moving on from B2B

Dennis Lister, vp cargo commercial development, is also a man with his eye on how the market and shipper is changing. As the new decade starts, Lister is already considering the opportunities over the next ten years that might present themselves. “I don’t see 2030 as being far off,” he says. “This is definitely the decade when we move from B2B towards B2C traffic.” He was talking to Air Cargo Week just 75 days after the launch of Emirates Delivers, a consolidation service for eCommerce purchases.

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Lister

Surch

In developing this new service, Lister attempted to contend with the growing issue of returns in the logistics chain. At present, the service allows consumers in the UAE to order online from retailers in the US. Products are transported to a depot in Florida where orders are consolidated into one consignment. The service’s USP is that clients can change their mind and return items, meaning they never leave the US. “In the 75 days since the launch, we have had 15,000 customers, many with more than one order. We have had zero percent returns!” Interestingly the trends identified by Al Murr are mirrored in the work of Julian Surch, Emirates SkyCargo pharma global sales. He is excited about a major gene therapy known as ‘cell and gene’ or car-T. This is the development of personal anti-cancer treatments which are bespoken to individuals. Working closely with drug companies, Surch says: “This is about sending an individual’s blood sample to a laboratory where a unique anti-cancer vaccine can be developed and returned to the patient.” The implications of this go along with the shrinking sizes of consignments. The commercial operations of SkyCargo, as curated by Lister and Surch, are evolving very

bai: At the heart of the matter loading bay would defeat modern robotic technology. Emirates SkyCargo is self-handing and Ambak builds on his own cargo-handling career, built from the shop floor up, to directly interact with the 3,200 staff at the Dubai hub, some 750 of which are at work at any one time. Danish national Ambak has two matrices of success he measures himself and his worldwide staff by: flown as booked and the inherent safety of all involved in the supply chain. Another concern is that Emirates SkyCargo remains a sought-after employer wherever it operates.

ted to spend a weekend argo at their global hub, eeting with cargo tion that is

Safety first

If Emirates SkyCargo manager cargo standards and operational safety Trevor Howard has a motto, it has to be ‘forewarned is forearmed.’ The affable Howard is in the peculiar situation of his successes go unnoticed. Indeed, cruel but kind fellow executives have dubbed him: “a business blocker.” His job seems to be to put the

Ambak

kibosh on good ideas that could make the airline money. He laughs off these suggestions. “I am a business enabler, not a business blocker.” At its core, Howard and his department survey, challenge and report back on new business ideas, such as a new station, with a view, fundamentally to deciding if it is safe. In the daily work undertaken by his department, he will be keeping his eyes on developing sanction regimes, new laws, visiting the corridors of power and being the eyes and ears of the cargo operation of the airline. It is ultimately in his gift if a service or product takes off; hence his undeserved reputation for being a business blocker. The fact that he has said no to something must be seen as ultimately protecting the organisation and its cargo clients from accidents and mishaps that could cost both monetary and reputational damage. On the flip side, if his thumb goes up, as it often does, Emirates SkyCargo is on the way to more successful business. And that is in everybody’s interests.

Howard

quickly into becoming a serious pharma operation. The airline handles some 75,000 tonnes of pharma a year, the bulk, some 30,000 tonnes ex-India for that most hypochondriac of countries, the United States. Full B777 freighters, loaded with generic medicines from India, arrive in Chicago to soothe the worried and unhealthy in the States. This, of course, is not the easiest station to service in terms of pharma shipments and the weather but Emirates SkyCargo are onto it. Planes are parked just metres from the unloading facility to reduce exposure to dangerous temperatures to a minimum. Lister is aware that sea freight is nibbling at airfreight’s movements of generic medicines but is confident that only short to middle distance airfreight could be troubled. Unlike many in the industry, he sees companies like Amazon Prime and Alibaba as potential sources of business, not rivals. “I look on Amazon Prime as an opportunity. We would look to become multiparnters with eCommerce, offering them a network they do not have to build themselves in terms of connectivity.” In fact, he has a team of researchers whose remit is to stresstest products constantly and ensure they still deliver for cargo clients. His obvious enthusiasm for his role at Emirates SkyCargo is matched by his grasp of pragmatism. “Everything we do is about the bottom-line and yields,” he says.

Nothing fishy about service

The unlikely transit of fresh Norwegian salmon from the cold Northwest of Europe to the gourmets of the land of the rising sun has become a benchmark for the success of what might be dubbed Emirates SkyCrago’s ‘two hubs, one airport’ policy, explains Henrik Ambak, senior vp cargo operations worldwide. Fresh salmon is landed at Dubai airport before being seamlessly trucked to Dubai World Cargo (DWC) or vice versa in under 90 minutes for onward movement. Geo-fencing means the road services are tightly controlled and safe from diversion or ambush while the fish barely has time to warm between the two hubs. “We consider the two airports as one hub,” says Ambak. He can foresee a time in the immediate future when these trucks will be self-driven. Dubai’s modernistic series of expressway that connect the two facilities are a God-send to traffic managers as they provide the perfect avenues for driverless technology. Slightly farther away, he feels, is the removal of human labour from the packing and storage areas. He explains that while robotic equipment is great for repetitive picking and assembly work, such as a production line, the myriad of shapes, sizes, weights and packing orders found in a break-down and make-up area of a

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PHARMA

CSafe opens new, larger service centre in Puerto Rico and offers earthquake relief

Safe Global, the innovation leader in active temperature-controlled container solutions for the transport of life-enhancing pharmaceuticals, hosted customers and employees at the grand opening of a 3,100 sq m service centre facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU). Nearly three times larger than the previous facility, the new service centre will accommodate demand for CSafe’s specialised air cargo containers for pharmaceutical shipments to more than 100 countries. CSafe has been part of the San Juan community since 2014 when a local partner began warehousing these temperature-controlled containers. In 2016, the company decided to invest in its own facility and moved in to the 1,200 sq m space in April of that year. The company has grown exponentially in the last three years putting significant demand on the SJU service centre, and the company once again decided to invest in a larger, more streamlined operational facility where the CSafe team could better serve customers. “We’re thrilled to continue growing in San Juan and are excited to see the new opportunities we’ll have to improve efficiency and expand the business even further. As with all of our service centres, this new facility will ensure

our RKN and RAP containers operate at top system performance, keep temperatures precisely where they need to be for our customers’ life-saving cargo,” said Tom Weir, VP of global operations at CSafe Global.

ACI World issues guidance on global communicable disease

irports Council International (ACI) World has highlighted guidance for airports following the recent novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. As the global response to the outbreak continues, it is expected that national regulators and health authorities will introduce measures directly affecting airports and the aviation industry more broadly. The Advisory Bulletin: Transmission of Communicable Diseases is intended as guidance for airports that can be modified to the local situation as necessary and used in discussion with local authorities and national regulators when determining appropriate actions. The top priority should be the swift agreement between the airport and the relevant authority of responsibility and accountability for measures. ACI World’s guidance complements region-specific advice issued by ACI Asia Pacific to its members this week. “The health and welfare of travellers, staff and the public, and to reduce the opportunities for dissemination of communicable diseases, are the priorities for the aviation industry following the recent novel coronavirus outbreak,” ACI World director general Angela Gittens said. “The guidance we have issued today reiterates a number of options and best practices that airports and national authorities can use to protect against communicable diseases that might pose a serious risk to public health. “The recommendations are designed to reduce exposure to an infectious agent at airports and to improve the response to health-related emergencies by establishing standards and procedures for rapid decision-making and action.” To keep updated on the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak, ACI recommends the website maintained by the global World Health Organisation , WHO Disease Outbreak News.

ACW 3 FEBRUARY 2020

In addition to the grand opening event, interim CEO, Patrick Schafer also announced that the company will make a significant donation to a local charitable organisation to assist in efforts to support local residents displaced by

The Coronavirus crisis

the ongoing devastating earthquakes. This is not the first time CSafe has stepped up to help in the area. Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the company chartered several cargo planes and an Antonov to deliver extra containers to the island to ensure life-saving medicines reached their destinations. CSafe also moved employees and their families into safe housing for several months while homes were repaired. “CSafe is committed to customers, employees and to the communities where we operate,” said Schafer. “Our mission is to provide peace of mind and helping our neighbors in times of need is absolutely essential in that effort. I can only hope that what we’ve have provided will offer some comfort to residents during this challenging time.” CSafe service centres put all RKN and RAP systems through an industry-unique Preventative Maintenance Rebuild (PMR) programme to certify optimal operational performance. This protocol goes a long way in providing peace of mind to CSafe customers, while delivering on the CSafe promise to protect what matters most to pharmaceutical companies, so patients can receive what matters most to them.

Should shoppers question the safety of Chinese parcels?

arcelHero says international shoppers are increasingly concerned about Wuhan packages; as new parcel restrictions and factory closures are set to impact on many imported item orders. The spread of the coronavirus is likely to impact significantly on UK importers and consumers, warns the international courier services expert ParcelHero. It says restrictions on shipments and compulsory factory closures in China’s Hubei province, which is at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, will mean significant delays on items from this important Chinese manufacturing area. And it cautions concern is spreading about the potential dangers of receiving parcels from Hubei. Explains ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks MILT: “Over 50 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed outside mainland China, including in the United States, Australia, France and Thailand. Fears about the spread of the virus beyond China through parcels shipments have been expressed in many key China export markets such as the USA and Malaysia. A US laboratory chemist who received a parcel mailed via China Post’s Wuhan facility complained to the United Stated Postal Service that such parcels could potentially spread disease ‘depending on the contents of the package’. Alarm in Malaysia has become so great that its deputy director of the Ministry of Health, Dr Li Guozhong, was forced

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to make a statement to Malaysia’s national newspaper, Sin Chew Daily, saying that it takes more than 24 hours for a package to be shipped from China to Malaysia, so the risk of the Wuhan pneumonia virus passing through the package is low.” Says Jinks: “Our live international courier services guide is not currently showing significant material delays in shipments to or from China, but we expect the situation to change. China itself has been forced to act over the concerns of shoppers in its key export markets. China Post’s Express Mail Service (EMS) announced on Sunday that it will delay shipping orders to disinfect goods. EMS said: “To ensure the public’s safety, we will ‘double-disinfect’ the parcels and the vehicles that will go through Wuhan, delaying the shipping process.” And Jinks says that though the risk of contamination from parcels seems minimal according to most experts, the outbreak is still a serious problem for UK importers and consumers; as manufacturers are being forced to extend their Chinese New Year closures, and further postal crackdowns are introduced. Concludes Jinks: “China’s New Year holiday has been extended to next Sunday, and in Shanghai the government has stopped virtually all businesses from returning to work until 10 February. Production of items popular in the UK is likely to be impacted, as are mailings from affected areas.”

C A

PHARMA

argolux Airlines has successfully passed its GDP (Good Distribution Practice) renewal audit. The full re-certification attests that the company’s management system fulfils the requirements of the EU directive ‘Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice of Medicinal Products for Human Use’ and of WHO guidelines. This certification reflects the airline’s commitment to high standards, especially when handling sensitive commodities such as pharmaceuticals. The company has dedicated cool chain experts experienced in the handling of healthcare goods. The GDP label also recognises Cargolux’s specificity as an all-cargo carrier with purpose-built 747 freighters that offer distinct temperature zone. “Cargolux is proud of this achievement and the commitment our teams continuously demonstrate to the requirements of the EU Directive ‘GDP Guidelines of November 5, 2013 on Good Distribution Practice of Medicinal Products for Human Use (2013/C 343/01).” says Franco Nanna, Cargolux director global logistics services. “Healthcare and pharmaceuticals are highly sensitive products and we want to ensure peace of mind during the transportation process. This certification represents a seal of approval from the industry in line with our commitment to service excellence.” Cargolux became the world’s first GDP certified airline in January 2014, confirming its compliance with EU GDP/WHO requirements.

Cargolux renews GDP certification

Pell BioThermal showcases CoolPail Flex

PELL BioThermal, the global name in temperature-controlled packaging, exhibited its industry leading shipper systems, including its innovative CoolPall Flex, at the 19th Annual Cool Chain Temperature Control and Logistics conference. Joining the Peli BioThermal team for the first time at the summit was the newly appointed vp of worldwide sales, Ed Meyer. Following a three year stint in London the conference returned to Western Europe and was held in Dusseldorf, Germany last week, a move welcomed by the Peli BioThermal team. Paul Terry, Peli BioThermal’s director of sales EMEA, said: “We are delighted that Ed joined us at the conference. It was great to be back in Western Europe for this event given the significance of this region and the key role the Western European pharmaceutical industry performs in the global healthcare system. “This was an excellent opportunity to introduce Ed to delegates as well as showcase the exceptional capabilities of our CoolPall Flex and portfolio of products. The CoolPall Flex customisable, flexible, range offers tailored solutions and high performance thermal protection perfectly suited for the global transportation of pharmaceutical and life sciences payloads.” Alongside CoolPall Flex, available in three heights with a capacity range of 140L – 767L offering standard or vacuum insulated panel (VIP) insulation options with water-based or Phase Change Material (PCM) coolants in single or double coolant configurations, the team presented a range of high performance shipper solutions at stand 35/38 including: Crēdo Cube, CoolGuard PCM, CoolGuard Advance and Crēdo ProMed. Meyer added: “I am really excited to be a part of the BioThermal team and see how critical temperature-controlled packaging is to the pharmaceutical manufacturing global industry.”

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ACW 3 FEBRUARY 2020

LIVE ANIMALS InstoneAir awarded European Aviation Safety Agency authorisation for new Fully Collapsible Airstable A

nstoneAir, a leading specialist in the air transportation of horses, has been awarded European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorisation by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its new Fully Collapsible Airstable, which lowers container positioning or return costs by enabling empty units to be transported in the lower decks of freighter and passenger aircraft. Designed to fit all wide-bodied freighters, including B747, B777, MD11, A310 and B767 aircraft, the Airstable features an interchangeable and reversible solid roof, making it extremely versatile for the transportation of racehorses, showjumping and eventing horses, polo ponies and bloodstock for breeding programmes. InstoneAir is the only UK company design-

ing and building fully compliant EASA-certified Airstables for horses and already includes rigid and droptop Airstables as well as wide-bodied and narrow-bodied charter stalls in its equipment fleet of more than 450 units. It now plans to produce 50-100 Fully Collapsible Airstables a year at its UK manufacturing plant to meet growing demand from airlines and bloodstock shipping agents. The new Airstable is quick and easy to use and can be assembled or collapsed by two people in just 15 minutes. It will be available to InstoneAir customers for ad hoc or contract rentals as well as outright sale. Managing director Jeremy Instone (pictured) says the newly-authorised container will combine optimum comfort and safety for horses

At rear: AirStable when it is constructed: in front the AirStable when it is collapsed. The stack of three shows how they can be returned as bellyhold cargo after use

along with welcome cost-savings for customers. “We have been designing and manufacturing a full range of Airstable models for over 35 years to fit any type of freighter aircraft. “It is our commitment to investing in, and meeting, the leading aviation industry standards for design, manufacturing and maintenance which has earned us a global reputation for the quality of our equipment as well as longstanding customer relationships. “The Fully Collapsible Airstable is a natural addition to our equipment fleet. In terms of positioning or repositioning units before or after each horse transportation, our new unit gives customers far greater flexibility and cost efficiency by enabling three or four collapsed Airstables to be stacked on a lower deck pallet, depending on the model. This will significantly improve the economics of horse shipments.” The rigid and robust Airstable, constructed to

minimise damage and repair costs, attaches to a conventional 125/96 pallet (PMC/P6P). Its entire design is geared to ensuring the comfort and well-being of horses during air transportation, with features including: • Fully adjustable partitions to provide variable width for each horse • Ramps at both ends for easy loading and unloading • Completely solid roof system • Sliding hatches for groom and vet access • A fixed, non-slip rubberised floor • An entirely leakproof design to prevent contamination of aircraft structure or other cargo • Quick and easy cleaning • Adjustable ventilation apertures to control light and airflow • Interchangeable roof for 747 – non contour • Interchangeable left or right contour roof for 777

IN December, South African Airways (SAA) joined the fight against the illegal trade in wildlife through the Illegal Wildlife Trade module of the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme. IEnvA is a comprehensive environmental management system that SAA uses to ensure that the airline is as environmentally sustainable as possible. IEnvA is an equivalent of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) but for the environment rather than safety. SAA is audited and certified as IEnvA compliant. SAA attained IEnvA Stage 2 certification in March 2015. SAA was audited during the course of December 2019 to ensure that the correct systems and procedures were in place. SAA is also a signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration of the United for Wildlife initiative. United for Wildlife works to tackle illegal wildlife trade by bringing together conservation organisations, governments, and global corporations. Led by The Duke of Cambridge and The Royal

Foundation, United for Wildlife is working to protect endangered species like elephants, rhinos, tigers, and pangolins so they can share our world with future generations. “We can all do our part to stop this scourge that subjects our wildlife to cruel methods of smuggling or to death at the hands of poachers. SAA is committed to making a difference and protecting our wildlife,” says Zuks Ramasia, SAA acting CEO.

SAA joins fight against illegal trade

ACW 03 FEBRUARY 2020

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TRADE&EVENTSFINDER World Air Cargo Awards 2020

Airlines Turkey

Freight Forwarders

Freight Forwarders USA

Hong Kong

Intâ€™l Logistics Denmark

Industry Event

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