ACW 14th November 22

REAL HORSE p OWER FOR AIR CANADA CAR g O

Air Canada Cargo has announced the introduction of a specialised service for equine transportation utilising its Boeing 767-300 freight ers. Air Canada Cargo will use stalls that are specifically designed to transport prized horses, with up to three animals per unit. Equine attendants accompanying horses will be accom modated on the same flights in special upper deck passenger seating.

The Air Canada Cargo freighter network pro vides many opportunities to facilitate convenient equine transportation globally throughout North America, Europe and Latin America seamlessly via its Toronto hub. The facilities in Toronto include

a state-of-the-art barn (comfort stop facility) that can hold horses in care and comfort at any point during their journey.

“This new highly specialised service is another sign of our continued investment in our facilities and international network to better serve our customers. Air Canada Cargo takes great pride in the safe and humane transport of animals, and our new equine product we offer to our custom ers, from the facilities and stalls that provide the highest standard of safety and care for these mag nificent animals to our ability to accommodate attendants onboard is state of the art from endto-end,” said Matthieu Casey, Managing Director, Commercial, for Air Canada Cargo.

In addition to the facilities in Toronto, the at tendants accompanying the horses will be able to check on the animals in-flight, ensuring they have water and are well cared throughout their journey.

The stalls Air Canada Cargo will utilise for this service are provided by Unilode, Air Canada’s long-standing ULD management provider, and were manufactured by VRR.

Air Canada Cargo offers the highest service level for horse transportation, compliant with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations.

Earlier this year, Air Canada became the first air line to be re-certified by IATA for the safe transport of live animals.

STRIkE AvIATION AgREEMENT

EFW, AMECO COLLABORATE ON A330P2F CONVERSIONSJAL grows CHAMPS services

JAPAN Airlines (JAL) continues to leverage CHAMP’s service offerings, using CHAMP’s API solution to quickly and seamlessly integrate with the digital booking platform – cargo.one. Going live initially for operation within the Eu ropean markets, such integration allows JAL to significantly enhance their customers’ digital booking experience.

JAL already makes use of CHAMP’s API solu tion to power its domestic air cargo “Matching

Platform” end-to-end service, enabling the airline to compete with other modes of trans port, by offering capacity to external vendors and matching booking requests from shippers against available JAL flights

Furthermore, CHAMP has also launched an API developer program whereby CHAMP’s cus tomers can use third party app developers to create value-add applications to support their specific needs.

ELBE Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), centre of excellence for Airbus freighter conversions and Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corp (Ameco), largest provider of MRO services for aircraft in China, announced today at Airshow China 2022 a new collaboration on Airbus Pas senger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions.

which is one of the largest and fastest growing aviation markets in the world.”

“We look forward to cooperating with EFW to support the market demand and to pro mote the air cargo industry development,” said Lun Chen, CEO of Ameco.

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Under the partnership, Ameco will carry out P2F conversions as a third-party service provider for EFW’s A330P2F programme. Con versions will be carried out at Ameco’s facilities in Chengdu, China, with the first induction of an A330 aircraft scheduled in 2023.

“Conversions have always been a strate gic product of Ameco. This co-operation will expand the P2F market and provide better service to our customers.”

EFW’s family of Airbus P2F programmes – A320P2F, A321P2F and A330P2F – is devel oped in collaboration with ST Engineering

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“We are very pleased to gain a renowned partner in China through our latest collabora tion with Ameco, which is well experienced in freighter conversions,” said Jordi Boto, CEO of EFW.

“The partnership will support the strate gy in positioning our freighter conversion programmes as a solution of choice as well as cementing our strong presence in China,

and Airbus, with EFW holding the Supplemen tal Type Certificate and leading in the overall programmes as well as marketing and sales efforts.

The A330P2F programme comes with two variants – the A330-200P2F and A330-300P2F – which are both equipped with advanced technology that offers airlines additional op erational and economic benefits.

AWERY ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIPS WITH AIRNAUTIC AND A.D. AVIATION

AWERY Aviation Services (Awery) has entered into separate agreements with general sales and service agent (GSSA) Airnautic and gen eral sales agent (GSA) A.D. Aviation which will see them integrate its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform into current software.

The system will streamline both companies’ sales, operations, and finance functions, as well as supporting bookings through Awery’s CargoBooking system.

“The speed of air cargo digitisation has been relentless as the measurable benefits for both GSAs and GSSAs have been indisputable,” said Vitaly Smilianets, chief executive officer (CEO), Awery.

“Awery’s tech was designed and created as a tool to drive efficiencies for GSAs and GSSAs and these two new agreements are indicative of just that.”

Airnautic, a family-owned company, was founded in 1958 and has offices in France, Spain and Italy.

“Our goal is to reach the next level of oper ational excellence and to serve our customers in the best possible manner,” said Philippe Queloz, COO, Airnautic.

“Our partnership with Awery Aviation Soft ware will integrate their latest technology to our service enabling us to further grow and expand our business overall.”

Awery’s ERP platform provides full connec tivity of all business and operational activities using the latest AI (Artificial Intelligence) to au tomate previously manual tasks.

Giving real time analytics will enable the two companies to provide better customer ser vice, deliver optimal flight management, and make more informed commercial decisions.

Globe Air Cargo USA marks 30th anniversary

GLOBE Air Cargo USA, a subsidiary of the ECS Group, works from eight offices located in all the major US gateways: New York, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francis co, Houston and Miami.

Globe Air Cargo’s success story first started in 1992. Back then, Astrid Artho was in charge of the operation, and one of its first customers was Aerolineas Tampa.

Since then, Globe Air Cargo has secured many fruitful and long running partnerships with airlines such as All Nippon Airways, a col laboration which started 16 years ago.

When asked about how he feels about Globe Air Cargo celebrating 30 years, Francis co Hernandez, country manager USA, is very positive: “We are very proud of this accom plishment. It proves our resiliency and it is a sign of stability in a very sensitive and volatile market.

“It shows our customers and partners the

level of professionalism associated with ECS Group. Some people dream of success, we make it happen!”

Danny Olynick, regional vice-president North America, explains that this long term presence is achieved by the personalised and strong commercial approach: “Globe Air Cargo USA has remained true to its commer cial DNA. We firmly believe that there is not a mould where ‘one size fits all’. What makes us unique is our outstanding flexibility to meet customer needs and expectations.”

Adrien Thominet, executive chairman of ECS Group, is delighted by this news: “Con gratulations to Globe Air Cargo USA for their longstanding success! I am so proud of our local heroes who truly embody ECS Group’s core values and augmented GSSA strategy. By always pushing their limits further, they have enabled Globe Air Cargo USA to become much more than a GSA.”

FEDEX Express (FedEx) has opened Incheon Gateway which spans 23,395 sq m and is equipped with 78 conveyor belts and an advanced automated sortation system that can sort up to 12,000 packages per hour. It also includes a 15,207 sq m warehouse.

EVA AIR debuts to Germany

Strike Aviation inks agreement with Amerijet

Strike Aviation has signed a representation agreement with the US airfreight company Amerijet Internation al, based in Miami, Florida. For Strike Aviation, the new contract will offer a wide range of new opportunities, including a greater range of services to customers, geographical expansion, and stronger competitive positions in the market.

“Strike Aviation is continually expanding its network of worldclass airlines in line with the demand for international air cargo. We can see a huge potential for cargo transport between Poland and Latin America.

“The new partnership with Amerijet will allow us to tap this potential and significantly strengthen our position in the Polish market.

“It is another important step toward the successful develop ment of Strike Aviation.

“In co-operation with Amerijet, we will have the opportunity to transport both standard and oversized cargo,” said Andrius Antanaitis, director of business development for Europe at Strike Aviation.

“We are delighted to grow our partnership with Strike Avia tion, our combined services will cover a strategically important region. We are looking forward to developing new partnerships and providing industry-leading solutions for our customers,” said Eric Wilson, CCO Amerijet.

Strike Aviation Poland has been operating in Poland since 2013. The headquarters are located in Warsaw, but sales operations are also developed in Krakow.

Strike Aviation operates from major air cargo hubs in Europe, North and South America and has offices in 26 cities globally, including offices in all three Baltic countries and Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

Amerijet is a rapidly growing US cargo airline that has devel oped an excellent freighter network of flights between Europe, the USA, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The com pany has been known for almost 50 years as one of the most important cargo carriers in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America regions, and has recently strengthened its posi tions in Europe.

Amerijet specialises in transporting pharmaceutical products, temperature-sensitive goods such as fruits and flowers, heavy cargo, hazardous materials, live animals and other goods. Amer ijet is a preferred air cargo partner for shippers across many industries.

The British are coming

TAIWANESE airline EVA AIR is heading to Germany for the first time, offering four flights a week from Taipei to Munich. Flights to the Taiwanese metropolis will leave from Munich on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A modern Dreamliner – the long-haul aircraft Boeing 787-9 will be used. The first flight was operated by a Boeing 777 with a special livery.

SIR Richard Branson touched down in Tampa Bay on Vir gin Atlantic’s inaugural A330neo flight.

The new year-round service will initially fly four times a week before increasing to daily from November 28, com plementing the airline’s flights to from London to Miami and Orlando.

Intercargo has recertified ISAGO audit

WFS OPENS LATEST AND THIRD CARGO HANDLING FACILITY AT COPENHAGEN

INTERCARGO underwent a comprehensive IATA (International Air Transport Association) audit to recertify ISAGO quality norm at its headquarters (MGQ) and Ezeiza, Aeroparque and Mendoza Stations (STN).

IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) Certification is the Ground Operations’ Safety Audit performed by IATA, the organisation which gathers and recommends good practices for the commercial aviation industry worldwide.

The audit programme, internationally recognised for companies that provide airport ground services to commercial, cargo and private airlines standardises processes, which ensure safer and more effective ground operations.

It has been statistically proved around the

globe that one of the most sensitive moments for aircraft happen during ground operations; therefore, it is critical to make permanent effort in order to take care and reduce damage to aircraft, to ground support equipment and at the same time, to ensure the integrity of the staff involved.

Also, during the audit, revision was applied to maintenance processes and to the administrative procedures which stand as part of the company’s management system; so that all the processes’ ultimate goal is to keep the safety standards requested by the industry.

This action is aligned with the safety requirements and updates of all airlines and allows to obtain safer procedures and at the same time, to hold a better understanding and knowledge of high-risk areas.

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has opened its latest and third cargo handling facility at Copenhagen Airport.

The new Terminal 3 cargo building adds a further 3,700 sq m warehouse facility to WFS’ handling infrastructure in Copenhagen, where it handles over 100,000 tonnes of cargo a year, carried onboard passenger and freighter services.

Since opening its first Scandinavian handling operation in Copenhagen in 2008, WFS has become the largest cargo handler at the airport, serving over 30 airline clients with flights to the Danish capital.

It also provides cargo handling services for more than 125 offline carriers. The original 4,600 sq m cargo warehouse terminal was

added to with a new 3,000 sq m Terminal 2 facility in 2010.

The following year, WFS also invested in a new GDP-certified Pharma facility, increasing its footprint by a further 1,500 sq m, to support the cluster of life science companies in the Greater Copenhagen area.

“Copenhagen is a very progressive airport with a strong commitment to supporting its cargo customers.

Since 2008, WFS has also demonstrated its confidence in the Danish and regional air cargo market through our continued investment and expansion, and we will continue to play a lead role in the growth of the airport and the airlines who fly here. We see a great future,” said WFS’ managing director Scandinavia, Thomas Egeland.

Tackling ‘Tech Lag’ in the airfreight industry

The aviation freight supply chain in the UK is flourish ing, with a market size measured by revenue of £1 billion in 2022, and growth of around 3.4% per year on average between 2017 and 2022. Having recov ered from the Covid pandemic, the industry is facing a new and more devastating challenge in the form of cyber attacks.

The UK had the highest number of cyber crime victims per million internet users in October, 40% higher than 2020 figures, while the US had the second highest number.

Cyber attacks against airports and other critical logistics in frastructure have increased dramatically, with data revealing the aviation sector faces a random ransomware attack every week. Aviation veterans and several major airports have all been subject to devastating cyber attacks in recent years. In the past week alone, the UK has switched to high alert as it pre pares for a fresh wave of Russian-led cyber attacks.

In a bid to address such threats, almost every large company conducts due diligence on a supplier before selecting them. And, almost every large company’s process contains an IT secu rity section. While it is a start, it is not enough, and businesses know it. Research suggests over 80% of transport and aviation cyber leaders feel they don’t have sufficient visibility across the IT boundary, or over all end user networks and systems.

The reality is supplier practices and processes will change. But almost no company requires its suppliers to periodically update the IT security diligence data. Process changes go un documented. Many companies collect IT due diligence data in spreadsheets or documents which, after the initial review, are filed on a server and essentially forgotten. When new attacks surface, there is no infrastructure in place to flag potentially vulnerable suppliers.

Taking a proactive approach

Cyber attacks are taking an unprecedented financial toll on companies, with the price of ransomware mitigation measures alone expected to reach $20 billion a year globally. It is imper ative they proactively address supplier-induced cybersecurity risk. Businesses cannot wait for an incident before reacting. It is also insufficient to expect suppliers to always “do the right thing”. Companies must take responsibility for monitoring suppliers’ cybersecurity practices and processes, and push vul nerable suppliers to improve processes.

Ways to minimise cyber security risk

When it comes to security, a company is only as strong as its weakest link. Companies must aim to incorporate all of its suppliers and vendors into its processes, regardless of the type of software or service they provide. It’s often the smallest links in the chain which can cause the greatest collateral damage.

These analytics must be designed to highlight key areas of vulnerabilities in suppliers’ processes. It is important that an alytics not be superficial. They must be detailed enough to pinpoint the deficient process areas. A single number indicat ing a supplier’s ‘Cyber Security Risk’ is a good start, but not sufficient alone. The analytics must highlight a weakness in a specific process which the supplier implements.

Almost every company has a process in place to assist sup pliers with issues, whether related to delivery, service or something else. A common process is a ‘Corrective Action Re port’ where the company issues a report to a supplier detailing the problems it has identified in their processes. The report in cludes steps the company expects the supplier to take and the actions the company may consider taking should the supplier not take appropriate action. The same or similar processes can be implemented for cybersecurity issues.

Extensive analytics

A company can implement extensive analytics and pro cesses. But, if it does not have the latest information from its suppliers, it leaves itself open to cyber attacks. Ideally, the company should implement data refresh as a part of its stan dard process, usually every six months.

Organisations must connect this information to the data collected from suppliers to create an early warning system. Should a supplier suffer a breach, or should a new vulnerability be detected in a system a supplier uses, the company can act instantaneously.

While traditional incentives for suppliers around increased

business work well, other incentives are worth considering. Suppliers can be given awards, preferred status, and referrals which help them win additional business.

It’s clear hacking attempts in the logistics industry are gain ing pace, due in part to the rapid digitisation of the space. The Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics UK Aviation Policy Group paper highlighted “digitalisation provides the op portunity for specialist freight airports to insert services into the supply chain to derive additional revenue streams.”

Companies and ports are increasingly reaching to technolo gies such as the IoT, but these add another layer of risk which needs to be managed.

These vulnerabilities point to the need for supply chain management professionals to work with their in-house cyber security teams or CIO and engage with reputable third-party companies to help survey suppliers to assess cyber risks.

This will need to be conducted regularly, as cyber attacks be come more frequent and sophisticated.

Era of sustainable aviation arrives

Eightminutes. That’s how long it took Eviation Aircraft to create aviation history earlier this year with the maid en flight of Alice, the first-ever fully electric commuter plane, showing that a new era of sustainable aviation has arrived.

“It was very exciting getting to see the aircraft fly. You know, you get to do something like this only a few times in your life time - where you actually go and make history,” Gregory Davis, Eviation Aircraft’s President and CEO, said. “We have not seen the propulsion technology change in the aircraft since we went from the piston engine to the turbine engine. It was the 1950s that was the last time you saw an entirely new technology like this come together.”

Meeting the industry’s needs

The company is offering three versions of the aircraft targeted at the regional market: commuter, executive and cargo. The latter has caught the eye of numerous companies, including global lo gistics and international shipping giant DHL, which has ordered twelve of the e-cargo versions to electrify its global aviation network.

Geoff Kehr, senior vice president global air fleet management at DHL Express, is passionate about improving the carbon foot print of aviation. “With our order, we’re investing towards our overall goal of net-zero emissions logistics.

“Alice’s range and capacity makes it a unique sustainable solu tion for our global aviation network, supporting our aspiration to make a substantial contribution in reducing our carbon footprint and ultimately, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. We’re aim ing to set up several Alice feeder networks, starting in the US.”

The aircraft’s popularity is reflected in how the company re cently announced that the order book for the aircraft has now passed a total value of $2 billion, with almost 300 versions of the plane on order from companies such as Cape Air and GlobalX Airlines.

“It’s definitely going to take off,” Davis added. “We’re going to create a new marketplace for people to be able to go and fly point to point, community to community.”

“The Alice will not just protect the planet but also create a more enjoyable flight experience for passengers. Considering the envi ronmental and fuel cost challenges facing conventional airlines,

incorporating the Alice into our customers’ fleets will give them a significant competitive advantage,” Eddie Jaisaree, Vice Presi dent, Commercial Sales at Eviation, said.

Transforming regional air travel

With a top speed of 480 km/h, a range of up to 400 kilometres and a maximum payload of 1,100 kilogrammes, the nine-pas senger aircraft’s all-electric propulsion system is a “revolutionary step forward in aviation,” according to the company.

Not only does it provide the standard needed for efficient regional transportation, it enables the aerospace industry to em brace the electric age, taking full advantage of advancements in technology.

Davis explained how about 80% of the aircraft is just a normal aircraft. The difference is the replacement of the traditional pro pulsion unit for an electric system. This major change in design led the company to look at the technology they were bringing to the marketplace and optimise the airframe to maximise innova tions and capabilities.

As half of the world’s air travel is less than 500 nautical miles, and 20-30% is less than 250 nautical miles, there’s a clear market for short range aviation. “If you look around in the US, for instance, there’s 2,000 airports that are currently in use but underutilised and there’s around 5,000 around the world, so there’s a massive potential unused airspace and airport infrastructure right now.”

“Electric flight is a step change in how we will soon be shipping. It will change our society,” Davis said.

“Alice’s maiden flight confirmed our belief that the era of sus tainable aviation is here.

“The electrification of every transport mode – including avia tion – plays a crucial role in developing clean logistics operations,” Kehr added.

Making air travel truly sustainable

By 2050, the aviation sector may produce more than a quarter of the global CO2 emissions if jet engine use continues to in crease, according to a study carried out by Deloitte.

With the world seeking ways to become more sustainable, a number of proposals have been floated for the aviation industry, from carbon offsets to the use of sustainable aviation fuel to sim ply reducing the number of aircraft flying. The test flight of Alice

twelve

showed that there is another way forward, capable of delivering sustainability without compromising the freedom to roam and use flight as a method of travel and transportation.

“We’re looking for ways to connect communities using sus tainable, affordable air travel,” Davis stated, highlighting how the company is focused on the three Cs - carbon, cost and conve nience. “We’re going to eliminate emissions from aircraft and air travel using this type of technology.

“The cost of electricity is much cheaper than aviation fuel. And, the ability to introduce affordable air travel is how we’re going to connect communities again.”

Carbon emissions aren’t the only pollution that the aircraft helps to tackle. Being quieter than combustion engine aircraft, it can help to reduce noise pollution and allow for more flights into hubs where that is a factor. Beyond geography, this means the air craft opens up nighttime application of airports that are limited by restrictions on disruption after certain hours. “Call it a curfew buster - breaking into airports that otherwise would be closed.”

The way forward

Eviation Aircraft developed the Alice from scratch, so, it has understandably been a long-time in the making. The first proto type, then called the Orca, was debuted in 2017 at Paris Air Show, with a full-size, functional prototype unveiled at the same event two years later. It would then take another three years before the aircraft would take to the skies for the first time. Now the maiden flight has been completed, the company is going to continue test flying the production aircraft and developing it through 2025, with the first planes delivered in 2027.

“We’re doing this because we want to be able to continue to travel. To do this, we need to make sure that aviation is sus tainable. That moment when Alice flew, we realised that we’ve succeeded in our missions. This very critical step is just a wonder ful experience,” Davis said.

This aircraft is just the starting point for Eviation Aircraft. Even though Alice only conducted its maiden flight in September and won’t be delivered to customers until 2027, Davis is thinking about the future. “We are obviously working now to make the air craft work but we’re excited about what we’ll be able to do as that technology continues to evolve and we can bring better energy density onto the aircraft.”

The cargo version has caught the eye of DHL, which has ordered

How AI and automation will transform businesses and revolutionise airfreight operations

Theair cargo sector is facing resource challenges and struggling with day-to-day operations, such as unre ported cargo volumes, available aircraft space, freight capacity, facility space, handling and delivery. Howev er, AI and data-driven decision-making offer a solution to these challenges and are becoming critical components of the end-to-end handling process.

As cargo volumes rise, there is a need for efficient processes and accurate data. The industry is estimated to be losing vast sums of money due to under-reported volumes and mis-decla rations of air cargo caused by the human error associated with manual processes. Getting the data wrong results in incorrect charges, reduces efficiency and impacts profitability. To address these inefficiencies, airfreight businesses need to blend their team’s expertise with real-time, data-driven intelligence. This improves the business’s freight management and productivity.

Fully autonomous robotic inventory management systems easily prevent such issues by scanning and photographically capturing cargo leading to accurate, real-time data. Implement ing this solution provides access to highly accurate data and is a cost-effective alternative to refitting warehouses. Loads are scanned quickly, allowing the warehouse bonded inventory checks to be completed efficiently with real-time comparisons made with the data contained in warehouse management sys tems (WMS).

Fully autonomous mobile robot

An illustration of how this works in practice is at Menzies Avia tion’s cargo facility at Heathrow Airport, where BotsAndUs’ fully autonomous mobile robot, Mimi, is making a real difference. By bringing in the BotsAndUs AI platform and Mimi, Menzies are easily able to track and find goods within the facility. Whilst man datory bond checks are labour intensive and performed once to twice a week, Mimi ensures there can be automated perpetual

checks at no extra cost.

Autonomous robots can run nightly autonomous audits for inventory checking and generate exception reports highlighting UTLs (unable to locate pallets), misplaced goods and rack occu pancy levels. Automating bond checks has augmented the work being undertaken on the warehouse floor by redeploying the te dious stock checking processes, enabling warehouse employees to concentrate on more complex tasks. As a result of this automa tion, bond checks can be run on an exception basis now as there is no need to physically check information, unless the location of

pallets are not aligned to the warehouse management system.

All of the data collected is sent to the BotsAndUs digital twin platform. This technology is the only platform powered by au tonomous robots that delivers insights in real-time for inventory management. As a result, Menzies has been able to get more ac curate forecasting and maximise the volume of cargo processed through the warehouses. It can also lead to increased profitability by reducing the number of misplaced and non-compliant assets.

“In February, Menzies introduced the autonomous robot Mimi, which was developed with BotsAndUs. It was important for us to use the technology to add real-time value to the operation. It is safe to say Mimi is delivering this, as on a daily basis we are scan ning over 500 locations and achieving high accuracy levels in a fraction of the time it has historically taken to do it manually. In addition, if Mimi finds a pallet in a different location to that regis tered in the Warehouse Management System it has the capability to flag this. Previously, this pallet would go to a UTL status but it is now found before it is lost and can very quickly be adjusted either physically or in the Warehouse Management System,” Rory Fidler, vice president cargo technology, Menzies Aviation, said.

“When automation and AI work together, they leverage the power of real-time data, which delivers benefits right from the beginning of the process. Now, they can control and manage the optimisation of their inventory operations,” Andrei Danescu, CEO BotsAndUs, explained.

BotsAndUs autonomous robotic and AI system has multiple benefits. It can be adapted to meet market demands, providing photographic evidence to support insurance claims. It also saves thousands of pounds in work hours by automating stock-taking and inventory control. This technology eliminates errors and increases productivity, while creating more rewarding jobs by removing tedious work. As the solution is designed for seamless integration with minimal disruption to existing workflows, there is no need for significant layout or infrastructure changes.