GLOBAL A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
MANAGEMENT
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
WORLD AIRPORTS .COM ACW Digital is sponsored by FREIGHTERS.COM
FREIGH
FRE
Tabloid page unbled.indd 1
24/11/2021 11:53
The weekly newspaper for air cargo professionals No. 1,158
::
29 NOVEMBER 2021
LIFT OFF! AIRCRAFT OF THE FUTURE WACA INVITES NOMINATIONS
THE Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards deadline is fast approaching. Don’t forget to nominate your favourite company. The ceremony will showcase ten industry categories as follows:
Airfreight Forwarder of the Year Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year Air Cargo Charter Broker of the Year Airport of the Year Air Cargo General Sales Agent of the Year Air Cargo Industry Customer Care Air Cargo Industry Achievement Information Technology for the Air Cargo Industry Air Cargo Industry Marketing & Promotional Campaign Cargo Airline of the Year
The Awards will be in two stages – a nomination stage and a voting stage. Nominations close on Friday December 10 2021. Nominations can be made for any air cargo sector organisation around the world by any person or organisation, using the official nomination form on www.aircargoweek.com Companies are permitted to nominate themselves, however, they will not be able to vote for themselves.
TRANSPORT LOGISTIC AND AIR CARGO EVENT PLANNED FOR SINGAPORE IN 2023 T
he Southeast Asian edition of transport logistic and air cargo will take place in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore on September 13-15 2023. MMI Asia, the regional subsidiary of Messe Muenchen (MMG), announced the dates together with key industry stakeholders Changi Airport Group, SATS and DHL Express. This edition is the latest in the leading series of transport logistic and air cargo shows which include: India, China, Turkey, the United States and the world’s largest logistics event and parent show in Munich. transport logistic and air cargo is a timely entry into the region as the transportation, logistics, and air cargo sectors faced the advent of new technologies, business models, markets and competitions. The event will address challenges that the eco-system is facing and bring together solutions for companies to evolve and meet changing customer expectations. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and MMI Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 15 2021, to organise the Southeast Asian edition of transport logistic and air cargo for multiple biennial editions in Singapore, starting from
Page 8
INSIDE
SAMAD AEROSPACE, AEROSUD MOU
SAMAD Aerospace has announced that it has signed an MOU agreement with Aerosud Aviation for the development and ... PAGE 2
FLYPOP PARTNERS WITH HI FLY
FLYPOP, the airline that specialises in low cost direct flights to India from the UK, has announced that it has partnered with Hi Fly ... PAGE 2 SMITHS, LHR AND MICROSOFT TOGETHER
SMITHS Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, has collaborated with Microsoft and Heathrow ... 2023. This partnership includes the development of new content, programme and exhibition components for the trade show, marketing and publicity efforts and areas of collaboration in industry knowledge exchange.
A disrupted world MMI Asia’s director and general manager, Michael Wilton said: “In a disrupted world, the logistics industry has had to adapt, change and
remain flexible in order to meet the extraordinary demands the global economies have placed on their sector. The event will enable the very best minds to meet, network and ensure they remain up to date with the latest trends and best practices in the industry. “For shippers looking to address and solve the demands that have been forced on their distribution and logistics networks, the event will provide unparalleled access to the very best solutions and services available in the global market.”
PAGE 3
THY CARGO CHOOSES UNILODE
TURKISH Cargo has appointed Unilode Aviation Solutions for the maintenance and repair of its ULD fleet under a three-year agreement. Unilode ... PAGE 4
Follow Us:
aircargoweek.com
NEWS
flypop partners with Hi Fly
FLYPOP, the airline that specialises in low cost direct flights to India from the UK, has announced that it has partnered with Hi Fly airline to commence its zero LOPA cargo operations. Hi Fly is the largest wide-body aircraft wet lease specialist in the world, EASA and IOSA certified and FAA approved, with AOCs in Portugal and Malta, and licensed to operate globally. The airline operates a large fleet of all Airbus aircraft, Airbus A320, A330 and A340. Navdip Singh Judge, CEO and principal of flypop, commented on the partnership: “This is another major milestone in the flypop journey as we have inducted the first of our four aircraft. We hope our cargo routes will assist with the global demand for cargo and help to alleviate cargo shortages for the Christmas holidays and beyond.” Hi Fly president, Paulo Mirpuri, added: “We are looking forward to working with the flypop team in the short-term doing cargo and in the long-term flying Indian and South Asian diaspora passengers into the second cities of India. Helping flypop in its journey from a start-up airline to a global player is very exciting for me personally and also to my Hi Fly team of wide-body experts.” flypop is focused on serving the Indian and South Asian diaspora communities living in the UK and their visiting friends and relatives. The airline says it believes the most effective way to start flying operations is with cargo until the frequency cap on UK-India flights is increased. The carrier plans to commence its first passenger services between London Stansted and India once the global pandemic situation becomes clearer. Several destinations on the Indian subcontinent are currently being considered including Amritsar, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Chandigarh.
STILL reading a printed copy of Air Cargo Week? Consider switching to the digital version. Contact subs@azurainternational.com and let them know that in future you would rather read the weekly publication on-line.
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
SAMAD Aerospace signs Aerosud Aviation MOU SAMAD Aerospace has announced that it has signed an MOU agreement with Aerosud Aviation for the development and manufacturing of its fully electric VTOL Starling Cargo aircraft. Aerosud Aviation is a South African aerospace engineering company specialising in commercial aerostructure part design and manufacturing for international Tier 1 suppliers. The Starling Cargo aircraft will be remotely piloted with auto pilot capability. It will have a cruising speed of 83 knots, flight ceiling of 10,000 feet and a range of up to 117 nm. The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft will enable flexible point to point air cargo of up to 60 kg payload. Dr Seyed Mohseni, CEO of SAMAD Aerospace, commented: “We look forward to
working with Aerosud Aviation to bring our eVTOL Starling Cargo aircraft to market for delivery during the next couple of years. The Starling Cargo aircraft will make air cargo faster, greener and more sustainable.”
Particular advantages Rob Jonkers, director of programmes at Aerosud Aviation, added: “We look forward to working with SAMAD Aerospace to bring to market this unique Starling Cargo eVTOL, which has particular advantages in the South African and African context given sparse infrastructure to move cargo at medium to long distance at speed. “The flexibility of Starling Cargo operations will bring a new dimension to
delivery turnaround times country and continent wide.” The SAMAD Aerospace team have seen interest in its Starling Cargo aircraft from a number of industry sectors that need to transit high value cargo. These include oil and gas corporations, gemstone mining companies, medical logistics and emergency response companies. The Starling Cargo aircraft will also be utilised to deliver humanitarian critical cargo of food, medicine and equipment to often remote regions of the world with underdeveloped or damaged local infrastructure. SAMAD Aerospace is now one of the top ten VTOL companies in the world. It has built and tested multiple prototypes of its eVTOL aircraft.
GEODIS to double Contract Logistics footprint in the UK
W
ith a total of 110,000 sq m new warehousing space opened in October across two new sites in the UK, GEODIS has significantly increased its Contract Logistics operation in Europe’s third largest retail market. Driven by demand for contract logistics services as a consequence of the retail e-Commerce boom that is no less apparent in the UK market than elsewhere in Europe, GEODIS has opened two new facilities: 40,000 sq m warehouse in the North of England in Doncaster and a 70,000 sq m logistics site at Lutterworth in the East Midlands region, providing employment for nearly 600 people, rising to 1,200 during the peak season. Established in response to the increase in sales volumes of a high-profile international online retailer, the facilities are equipped with state-of-theart automated technology, 18-metre, high-density racking and provide a combined
capacity for processing up to 1.5 million units per week opened in time for the seasonal peak. Stéphanie Hervé is COO, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa for GEODIS says: “Retailers are beefing up their ability to supply the burgeon-
ing e-Commerce sector via a nationally based distribution network. Our response is to help our established customers grow and to attract additional business with our skills and experience augmented by our innovative and specially designed IT/auto-
mated solutions for the online retail sector.” Both locations are well-located in terms of access to national road networks. Doncaster as well as Lutterworth are in areas of concentrated logistics and warehousing activity.
AA Cargo enhances pet programme
2
ACW 29 NOVEMBER 2021
AMERICAN Airlines Cargo introduces American PetEmbark, an enhancement to its pet programme that now offers customers last mile solutions, new tools and resources and will soon include a more seamless booking process – making pet travel on American easier than ever. Part of the PetEmbark programme includes a new video guide that offers step-by-step instructions for booking a pet on American, ranging in information from kennel guidelines to approved travel conditions to drop-off and pick-up tim-
ing. The video explains how American’s trained pet-handlers and agents will care for pets along the journey and the pride American takes in helping these precious passengers along their journey.
Safe and seamless The airline also recently announced a new partnership with My Pet Cab. Available for booking as of September 1, My Pet Cab offers pet owners a safe and seamless home delivery service for pets while working directly with American to coor-
aircargoweek.com
dinate and complete the final miles of each pet’s itinerary. My Pet Cab vehicles are equipped to prioritise each pet’s health and safety on their ride home, outfitted with secondary air systems and electronic monitoring thermometers as well as remote cameras and vehicle monitoring systems. “With American PetEmbark, our customers have more access to tools and resources that make shipping their pet as seamless as possible,” said Vittal Shetty, head of cargo strategy for American Airlines Cargo. “These enhancements
not only make it easier for pet owners to do business with us but helps to ensure a safe and stress-free journey from start to finish.” American has more than 65 years of experience transporting animals and provides industry-leading policies and procedures to ensure all animals have the best experience possible. With American’s PetEmbark programme, customers can feel confident their furry friends will be in the hands of a dedicated team of compassionate animal handlers.
K
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
NEWS
K
Freight platform Saloodo! is now four times ISO-certified
T
he logistics start-up Saloodo! has been awarded ISO certificates in no less than four categories by Dekra. Customers and business partners of the digital freight platform thus receive independent proof that Saloodo! meets the highest standards in the business process. After an intensive audit lasting several weeks by the experienced experts of Dekra, Saloodo!, the digital freight platform, has received awards according to the ISO standard for various business areas. Thus, Saloodo! complies with ISO 14001 and 50001, two standards recognised by
the International Standard Organisation and awarded to companies that have made a special commitment to sustainability. ISO 14001 is the globally accepted and applied standard for environmental management. It sets requirements for an environmental management system that enables companies to improve their environmental performance, meet legal and other obligations and achieve environmental goals. The goal of an energy management system according to ISO 50001 is the continuous improvement of energy
SMITHS Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, has collaborated with Microsoft and Heathrow in the development of a first of its kind multispecies AI model designed to uncover illegally trafficked wildlife concealed in baggage and air cargo. Initial testing of the algorithm which took place at Heathrow has shown a success rate of over 70% in identifying trafficked animals, including ivory. As part of Project SEEKER, an extensive library of X-ray images taken from Smiths Detection’s CTX 9800 baggage scanners at Heathrow were used to train the Microsoft AI for Good model. The machines can screen up to 250,000 bags a day, generating a multitude of data for inspection.
Tackling the issue could also contribute to the reduction of Zoonotic diseases (animal to human) which have been recently linked to wildlife trafficking. “We’re incredibly pleased with the initial results of this trial, which have been achieved by combining Smiths Detection’s and Microsoft’s technologies to create a usable solution for this very real problem. The trial has demonstrated that using AI-powered technology to automatically uncover threats and contraband significantly reduces operator burden,” said Richard Thompson, market director, aviation at Smiths Detection. “We’re very much looking forward to strengthening our collaboration with Microsoft further as we work towards our respective ambitions of using AI for good and making the world a safer, better place.” Project SEEKER was presented at an event hosted by Microsoft with The Royal Foundation and the Duke of Cambridge. The charity, which supports the work of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, is committed to tackling the trafficking of wildlife products
SMITHS DETECTION WORKS WITH LHR AND MICROSOFT
Global crime Globally, illegal wildlife trafficking is among the five most lucrative global crimes and is often run by highly organised criminal networks. Combatting wildlife trafficking could therefore cut off revenue streams to organised crime and help stop animal poaching in its tracks.
performance. The standard describes the requirements for a company to introduce, operate and continuously optimise an energy management system.
Better optimise Quality and customer satisfaction as well as efficiency and responsiveness are among the decisive factors for a company’s competitive success. By introducing a reliable quality management system, Saloodo! can better optimise the necessary processes and procedures and make the demands on the organisation and management more
efficient. This is exactly why Saloodo! has been certified with ISO 9001. The certification shows that Saloodo! has developed management systems to subject its products and services to a continuous improvement process.
ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety is covered by the ISO 45001 standard, for which Saloodo! has also been certified. It confirms that Saloodo! lives up to its social responsibility and does everything in its power to demonstrably reduce the risk of injuries,
accidents and work-related illnesses among its employees. “I am particularly proud of the ISO certificates in the area of sustainability, as this topic is very close to my personal heart. “Being awarded for good energy and environmental management as a logistics start-up is a challenge. “At the same time, it officially confirms what I experience every day in the office in terms of environmental awareness by our employees and what we are already implementing with many topics such as Green Carrier Certification,” says Dr Antje Huber, CEO Saloodo!.
Freshly awarded four ISO certificates, the company will actively continue on its expansion course in the future.
Start-up Five years after the company was founded, Saloodo! is already used by more than 30,000 shippers and over 12,000 transport companies. The start-up is currently active in more than 50 countries on four continents and now also offers the possibility of processing shipments to customs-relevant countries such as Switzerland via Saloodo!
ACW 29 NOVEMBER 2021
3
NEWS
A
Cargojet is Mammoth Freighters’ launch customer for 777 freighter
CARGOJET Airways is the launch customer for Mammoth Freighters’ new 777-200LR freighter with the signing of a sales agreement for two initial 777-200LRMF freighters. Cargojet has additional options for two 300ERMFs and two additional 200LRMFs. MSN 29742, the prototype article for certification, will be the first aircraft delivered to Cargojet. The aircraft is expected to begin the conversion process in mid-2022 with delivery to Cargojet in the second half of 2023. Cargojet is Canada’s leading provider of time-sensitive premium air cargo services to all major cities across North America, providing dedicated ACMI and International Charter services and carries over 25,000,000 pounds of cargo weekly. Cargojet operates its network with its own fleet of 31 aircraft.
4
ACW 29 NOVEMBER 2021
The addition of Mammoth’s 777-200LRMF freighter completes the Cargojet fleet profile. The Mammoth 777 is a fuel efficient, heavy lifting, high-volume, long-range aircraft operating with clean, efficient, and reliable GE90-110/115B engines.
Next generation Mammoth co-CEO Bill Tarpley said: “We are grateful and excited that Mammoth has been selected by Cargojet to bring this conversion to market and demonstrate the significance of our product to the world. This is the next generation of converted freighters that have improved on-wing performance while using less fuel and emitting less carbon than the current ageing widebody fleet.”
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
ANC sees record Q3 volumes TED Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) has reported that record air cargo volumes are continuing to pass through the airport, surpassing previously record-breaking volumes from the first half of this year. As of the end of the third quarter, ANC welcomed 917,753 tonnes of air cargo, a 5.62% increase compared to the third quarter of 2020. The steady influx of cargo to ANC’s airfield brings with it an increase of job opportunities for Alaskans and economic benefits. “We are thrilled that air cargo growth continues to highlight the critical role ANC plays in the global supply chain,” said airport director Jim Szczesniak. “ANC is the future nexus of the transpacific shipping method.” ANC also announced that an air cargo shipping study, done in partnership with the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), was recently completed. ANC Pacific-Air-To-Sea-Service (ANC PASS) is a com-
pletely new shipping method that can help alleviate current bottlenecks in the supply chain. ANC PASS works by combining ANC’s air cargo network and the backhaul capacity of ships servicing the Port of Alaska. “Every week 151 Boeing 747s worth of empty trailers and containers leave Anchorage. ANC PASS provides an opportunity to inject more capacity into the supply chain,” said Szczesniak .
TURKISH Cargo has appointed Unilode Aviation Solutions for the maintenance and repair of its ULD fleet under a three-year agreement. Unilode will repair Turkish Cargo’s standard and heavy-duty pallets, pallet nets, cargo and special containers at 22 locations in Unilode’s EASA and FAA-certified repair network in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, to complement Turkish Airlines’ in-house repairs in Istanbul, Turkey. Vural Ursavas, SVP cargo operations, at Turkish Airlines, commented: “We are pleased to join forces with Unilode Aviation Solutions for worldwide ULD repair. This co-operation will be providing operational sustainability, allowing high availability and better utilisation of assets for Turkish Cargo in terms of repair management. Working with Unilode at multiple locations will be ensuring consistent quality
and repair compliance across our network, and we look forward to carrying out constructive partnership for an improved performance and efficiency.” Marc Groenewegen, chief commercial officer and managing director MRO Solutions, Unilode Aviation Solutions, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Turkish Cargo for the outstation repairs of its cargo container and pallet fleet. Turkish Cargo’s worldwide destinations overlap with several repair stations owned and operated by Unilode that makes it possible to repair ULDs where the damage occurs to significantly reduce ULD repositioning needs, fuel burn and CO2 emissions. “We are committed to helping Turkish Cargo increase its asset utilisation through quick repair turnaround times in our global MRO network. “
TURKISH CARGO CHOOSES UNILODE FOR ULD MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
aircargoweek.com
K
A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
NEWS
K
Boeing backs Fahari Innovation Hub BOEING has announced a partnership with Kenya Airways to support the airline’s recently launched Fahari Innovation Hub. The announcement ceremony took place at the Dubai Airshow 2021, with Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Turkey and Africa, and Allan Kilavuka, group managing director and CEO of Kenya Airways, in attendance. Launched in July 2021, the Kenya Airways’ Fahari Innovation Hub is a platform that brings together entrepreneurs and innovators to help accelerate the development of the aviation industry and tackle some of its current and future challenges. “We are very proud of our partnership with Kenya Airways to support their new startup hub. We share a common objective to discover and empower new talent that will accelerate the growth of our industry. The industry has been through a tough two years, but it is resilient and promises to become even more competitive and complex. We have the opportunity to enable new entrants that think outside of our norm and consider new approaches to our business, ” said Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Turkey and Africa.
World class ideas Group CEO and MD, Kenya Airways, Allan Kilavuka said, “While the pandemic came with extreme challenges for the aviation industry, it also brought along opportunities for reflection initiatives, one of them being the Fahari Innovation Hub. This not only enabled the presentation of new world class ideas that became part of the solutions to the challenges we faced but also brought together partners with whom we have worked together across the value chain in a bid to revive operations.” The Fahari Innovation Hub is an autonomous and agile business unit, created within Kenya Airways. Boeing will support the hub through equipping the centre with software, hardware, furnishing, and other essential requirements.
Epicentre Focused on being an epicentre for strategic innovation management, the centre will offer opportunities for co-creation, collaboration, networking, research, and learning. It aims to stimulate innovation by providing expertise, resources, services, mediation, and support to other business functions and partner organisations.
Etihad Cargo deploys AI-powered airfreight loading ETIHAD Cargo has entered into a Proof-of-Concept agreement with SPEEDCARGO, the logistics technology solutions provider, to utilise the Singapore-based provider’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) products to boost cargo capacity on flights. The landmark agreement makes Etihad Cargo only the second aviation company worldwide to leverage the CARGO EYE dimensioning system, and among only a few global carriers to trial SPEEDCARGO’s AI-powered CARGO MIND software solution, which delivers optimal cargo space planning and utilisation in seconds in full adherence to regulations and business constraints. “Etihad Cargo’s goal is to assess whether implementing CARGO EYE and CARGO MIND could ensure a complete endto-end process which totally transforms airfreight operations,” says Martin Drew, SVP sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group. “The Proof-of-Concept will confirm whether these advanced SPEEDCARGO products can boost efficiency, productivity and revenue returns through digital technology solutions, with the plan to integrate them into our operations in 2022.” CARGO EYE, developed with Microsoft’s cutting-edge Timeof-Flight sensing technology, captures imagery of incoming cargo and calculates accurate dimensions based on cargo type, size and packaging in real time, while seamlessly integrating the data into existing warehouse management systems. The solution also feeds data into CARGO MIND to accurately build load plans, monitor and promote data compliance, and identify damaged cargo to reduce potential claims. “Etihad Cargo is the first airline to propose using SPEEDCARGO’s new CARGO MIND-Airline Product for early-stage flight planning and creation of final booking lists and first level load plan within the airline ecosystem,” said Dr Suraj Nair, founder and chief technology officer, SPEEDCARGO.
ACW 29 NOVEMBER 2021
5
NEW TECHN A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
Niall Balfour: “Digitalisation runs through our development strategy”
“
As a business we are looking at digitalisation and the Internet of Things (IoT) as a means of doing things better and faster through both automating and optimising processes to provide the highest quality and consistency to our customers,” Niall Balfour, chief executive of Tower Cold Chain, the Reading based temperature controlled solutions provider, tells ACW. “Digitalisation runs through our development strategy, both in terms of modernisation of Tower and in providing one version of the truth. Systems are integral to the way we work and our opportunity to add value to our solutions and these technologies will help us with our desire to deliver new SMART solutions to the market.”
Patented datalogger Tower’s original patented datalogger system has been key to this development. The company was the first to incorporate a datalogger into a thermally insulated container, designed to measure ambient and product temperatures continually. “Twenty years on, our latest technology delivers the robustness, reliability and reusability our customers’ demand and today’s dataloggers play a key part of this,” says Balfour. “Built into all Tower containers, the devices are capable of logging internal temperatures from -95°C (-139°F) up to 50°C (122°F). Using Bluetooth Low Energy Technology, each logger communicates wirelessly, sending real time accurate data to the cloud. This allows for in-transit compliance checks and on-delivery sign-off, delivering a complete electronic and hard copy audit trail across the entire logistics process to ensure peace of mind throughout the journey. “We are constantly innovating and improving our offering to ensure all cold chain pharmaceutical products make it to their destination safely and securely, ensuring critical medicines are delivered intact and always within the manufacturer’s temperature stability requirements. AI is rapidly emerging as a powerful technology to add value to the sup-
6
ACW 29 NOVEMBER 2021
ply chain across multiple dynamics and data sources. “We are evaluating the use of AI in helping to analyse the vast data set that we have from our ongoing and historical container journeys around the globe. For example, where we currently have automated alarms and alerts, further data analysis can help us identify new ways to accurately predict future performance to enable better decision making, both from an operational performance perspective and for predictive maintenance and product optimisation.”
Advanced manufacturing As for the development of the Tower offering, Balfour explains that a range of advanced manufacturing and material technologies will be introduced to enhance the thermal performance and passive energy storage systems incorporated into Tower’s containers. “Complex composite materials can offer enhanced performance and ensure that we continue to develop robust, reliable and reusable products, which are sustainable and minimise their impact on the environment. “Our products are digitally connected and
continually monitor both ambient and product temperatures which are uploaded to the cloud using Bluetooth connectivity. In a rapidly developing digital world we are striving to develop smarter products to take full advantage of IoT connectivity,” Balfour says. He tells ACW that Tower’s research and development process focuses strongly on customers, analysing their needs alongside the trends and technologies within the wider market to identify innovative opportunities. “Our expert teams work closely with stakeholders to identify challenges across a supply chain and deliver customer-focused innovation from our new headquarters with its Innovation Centre. Be it from the latest advances in IoT technology to the newest materials science, our dedicated team have the space and development resources to ensure we continue to deliver innovative and market leading solutions to our customers through our R&D programmes.”
Unprecedented growth Throughout the pandemic, Tower has seen unprecedented growth. “Undoubtedly, the pandemic has had an enormous effect on the global supply chain network, and many continue to face the combined challenges of reduced capacity for air freight, grounded flights, spiralling costs and sea freight delays to name but a few issues. But, whilst the world of shipping has certainly changed beyond all recognition, Tower continues to provide reliable, robust, and reusable cold chain solutions for our customers,” says Balfour. “As a business we have seen huge demand for the effective cold storage transportation of pharmaceutical goods, and our ability to provide excellent customer service and product availability globally has been a real focus for the business. “The pandemic has changed many things, but our customers’ needs have in essence remained aligned to our product pillars of robustness, reliability and reusability, and we have therefore focused to ensure we continue to deliver for them as a business.
aircargoweek.com
“Clearly all supply chains faced both increased demand, shorter lead times and significant forecast variability because of Covid-19, and we therefore invested in our global supply network to ensure our solutions were available for collection and/or delivery in the geographies and regions where our customers’ manufacturing facilities are based. “Our global supply chain team also worked effectively within a complex market environment to ensure that product availability was maintained throughout the pandemic in all global hubs. Having each hub stock all Tower products was a clear market need, as customers often changed packing configurations and volumes reflecting the wider market environment. In addition, our Team Tower experts supported our customers’ regulatory and quality teams to meet the increase in demand and needs driven by the pandemic. “Our customers and their supply chains are increasingly demanding circularity, and this aligns with our own determination to minimise waste and maximise container use and reuse. This journey has been recognised in our recent medal from EcoVadis who analysed our sustainability performance and awarded us a bronze medal.” Balfour anticipates that this momentum will continue into 2022 and beyond. “Our new product pipeline is advancing well with a number of short- and long-term projects in development. These are focused on broadening our range of options in sub-pallet sizes across both mechanically and manually handled units as well as larger multi-pallet systems. We are also developing the next generation of existing Tower products with higher thermal performance and enhanced passive energy systems to address the ever-developing needs of the market,” he says. “This combined with real-time visibility of temperature and location data as well as other performance information for our containers, will ensure we continue to expand our offering by meeting the exacting quality focus and performance requirements of the pharmaceutical industry and deliver the exceptional value and performance Tower is known for.”
K
HNOLOGY A
I
R
C
A
R
G
O
W
E
E
K
INNOVATION AND DIVERSIFICATION New tech ARE NECESSARY vital to
THE Covid-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to global society and economy and in the aviation industry it has highlighted a need for innovation and diversification, Hawkins Musili, general manager at Fahari Aviation, Kenya Airway tells ACW. New technology and new ways of thinking need to be adopted to move forward. “2020 was an unprecedented year, as an airline we realised that we needed to meet the challenges of the “new normal” and reset in our thinking and approach. New challenges need new solutions now and in future to bring both resilience, and sustained success,” he says. From this, Fahari Aviation was born. “Fahari Aviation was created from an internal process for two major reasons – One was out of the necessity for the airline to develop business units that could create new revenue streams in the wake of low passenger numbers as a result of the pandemic. “The second reason was to tap into Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Technology – a fast-growing but largely untapped market in Africa. Fahari Aviation offers a onestop shop for both individuals and corporates looking to tap into this industry from training of pilots, enterprise solutions to traffic management,” Musili notes. Fahari’s creation sits within the de-risking strategic pillar for Kenya Airways group. What exactly does it mean to de-risk the business? Musili explains: “The latest 2020 Africa air transport report from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) shows how air routes in Africa were decimated during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Financially, 2020 was an exceptionally difficult year in history, it said, with estimated passenger revenue lost by African airlines in 2020 at $10.21 billion. The number of scheduled passengers carried by African airlines dropped from 95 million in 2019 to 34.7 million in 2020, representing a year-on-year decline of 63.7%. “Fahari Aviation was derived from an initiative to “de-risk the business” and develop a subsidiary of a strong aviation stakeholder. In 2020, the engineering arm of the KQ business took the challenge to come up with ideas that would impact the airline’s back-to-business strategy and aid in de-risking and diversifying revenues streams in the wake of low passenger numbers. “Aligning with our purpose of the sustainable development of Africa, Fahari Aviation through Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) was one of the ideas that came to fruition focusing on using disruptive technology to realise KQ’s mission of “Sustainable development of Africa”.
Musili believes that the importance of UAVs in the logistics industry will only grow. “In the next few years, considering current environment and the technological developments in the world; drones are becoming an important part of the rapidly expanding modern logistics industry. Cargo transportation is rapidly shifting from traditional standards to new generation transportation vehicles.” It is acknowledged that whilst drone innovation comes with abundant opportunities, there are also many challenges hindering their wide use in logistics.
One such that Musili notes is their limited load and flight capability. “Adding extra sources of power or mechanisms to improve their load capacity adds to the cost of the manufacturing. Not just the cost, but increasing the load also reduces the flight time of these technologies,” he says.
Higher air traffic “Another challenge that drones face today is that of air traffic management, especially in areas with higher air traffic concentration. Experts are trying to keep manned vehicles distinct from the unmanned ones. “The growing popularity of drones is also posing multiple security threats. Many drones are now being fitted with cameras to enable video footage or live streaming of the flight. This application may turn out to be beneficial in some cases, but there has been an increase in using such drones to wrongly shoot in authorised locations, violating privacy policies. “While it is apparent that as useful and productive as these drones can be, they also come with some risk. “Like there are ways to enhance the beneficial features in them, regulatory laws, and policies, are strictly being applied to help in reducing the risks and building a better future for drone technology. “Last year, the Ministry Of Transport published UAS regulations giving the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the mandate for registration and operation of drones in Kenya. Under the new regulation, those interested in operating drones need to be trained pilots and
obtain a security clearance from the Ministry of Defence. Requiring drone pilots to identify and secure proper documentation before operating is a measure squarely enacted to ensure safety during the use of drones, for national security purposes and protection of privacy for individuals as well as putting value for a credible and well-regulated industry.”
A sustainable option Are drones the answer to sustainability issues that loom over the industry? As we enter a new era of advanced mobility that includes innovations once thought impossible, it is becoming clear that it is no longer adequate to do things the same way. “Drones offer many solutions as we transition to a more sustainable world for tourism and business travellers. In health, in agriculture, manufacturing and the utility sector among others, drones are providing practical, safe and lowcosts solution that minimise downtime and supports business efforts,” says Musili. “The accelerating pace of development and adoption of drones is likely to continue driven by the cumulative nature of technological change and the convergence of technologies into new combinations. “Harnessing drone technologies – combined with action to address persistent gaps in access and use of existing technologies to develop innovations – could be transformative in achieving Sustainable Development and producing a more prosperous, sustainable, healthy, and inclusive Africa. “As technology continues to grow and play a larger role in consumers’ lives, industries have transformed and adapted as well. “The socio-economic impact of this disruptive technology is clearly evident in the development of Kenya and Africa at large, especially in areas where infrastructure development is lagging.
Pro-active investment “Kenya Airways is pro-actively invested in driving the country’s Big 4 agenda by supporting direct impact government entities. This has been scaled through the adoption of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) that provides an interlink between technology and businesses thus enabling organisations to improve and transform the way they do business. “So far, we have developed proof of concept with KenGen, confirming the use of unmanned aerial automobiles to enhance safety margins, decrease prices, and expedite its modernisation programmes by way of drone expertise.”
reduce emissions NEW technology aircraft and jet fuel made from waste: the global air transport industry outlined how to meet its new long-term climate goal during the UN COP26 in Glasgow. This confirms the commitment of the world’s airlines, airports, air traffic management and the makers of aircraft and engines to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in support of the Paris Agreement. Aviation is one of the only sectors to have made such a global commitment.
Sustainable aviation fuel Analysis detailed in the Waypoint 2050 report outlines credible paths for the air transport sector to reach net-zero carbon. The industry says a mix of new technology including potentially shifting to electricity and hydrogen for some shorter services; improvements in operations and infrastructure; and a transition to sustainable aviation fuel by mid-century would provide a majority of the carbon reductions. Remaining emissions could be captured using carbon removal measures. Speaking at a COP26 event with the UK Government, Haldane Dodd, acting executive director of the Air Transport Action Group said: “Aviation has increased its ambition in line with the need for all sectors of the economy to pursue rigorous climate action. Despite having endured the greatest crisis in aviation history, this net-zero 2050 goal shows that our sector has placed climate action as one of its highest priorities.”
Several scenarios A complete shift away from fossil fuels for air transport around mid-century would be possible, with sustainable aviation fuels made from waste resources and rotational cover crops gradually transitioning towards fuels generated from low-carbon electricity. Importantly, the shift to sustainable fuels will enable green energy industry opportunities in nearly every country, sustaining up to 14 million jobs worldwide. “Our analysis shows several scenarios, with new technology options such as electric and hydrogen aircraft for the short-haul fleet, to a complete shift to sustainable aviation fuel for medium- and long-haul operations. We have identified the building blocks needed and the scale of the challenge is substantial, but with supportive government policy and the backing of the energy sector, it can be done,” said Dodd. “National government policy measures focused on innovation and energy transition are vital. We also urge the member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to support adoption of a long-term climate goal at the 41st ICAO Assembly in 2022, in line with industry commitments.”
ACW 29 NOVEMBER 2021
7
LIFT OFF! AIRCRAFT OF THE FUTURE UNVEILED EASYJET ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF FUTURE FLIGHT COMPETITION easyJet launched the competition in October for children to design a zero-emission passenger aircraft CERYS, aged 8 from Norfolk and Lara, aged 15 from Surrey have been crowned the winners of easyJet’s ‘Aircraft of the Future’ competition following a UK-wide contest. The airline launched the competition in October, challenging the next generation of engineers to design their vision for future flying - a passenger aircraft for travelling across Europe powered by a sustainable energy source. Entries included designs inspired by solar-powered wings to more unconventional energy sources like hamster-wheel and worm-powered planes! The designs also featured a selection of sustainably sourced materials including seats made from coconuts (coir), one of the thickest and most resistant natural fibres available. The reveal of the winning designs follows the conclusion of COP26 in Glasgow, where the airline announced that it has joined Race to Zero, a global UN-backed campaign to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. In joining Race to Zero, the airline is committing to set an interim science-based target for 2035 as well as to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, of which technology for zero-emissions flying will play an important part.
Battery power Cerys’ winning design centred on battery power, with solar-powered wings and reusable cups for passengers made of processed banana leaves. Whilst Lara’s design looked at using pressurised hydrogen and fuel-cell stacks to generate electricity to power their passenger aircraft of the future. Lara’s aeroplane also took inspiration from the animal kingdom with material replicating fish scales for the plane’s fuselage, intended to decrease drag for the plane to improve fuel-efficiency. All design entries were judged by a panel of world-class experts in flying, sustainability, design and zero emission technology. easyJet pilot and zero emission aircraft modeller Debbie Thomas was joined on the panel by easyJet’s director of sustainability Jane Ashton; zero emission aircraft expert Glenn Llewellyn from Airbus; Jeff Engler, CEO of Wright Electric which is developing a zero-emission short-haul plane; and world-famous automotive transportation designer Frank Stephenson, best known for his iconic car designs for Mini and Fiat 500, as well as recent innovative work designing electric flying vehicles.
Design quality The panel judged all the entries on the quality of the design, interpretation of the theme, creativity, innovation, practicality, and most of all, how the design has considered sustainability and the environment. Research by the airline of 2,000 British children and adults revealed that well over four in five (83%) British children would like to take up a career that worked in finding solutions to combat climate change through science or technology, with 85% of parents supporting their children in this. Some 95% of children believe that learning about subjects like science and technology for combatting climate change is important and a further 90% of children think that having the chance to be an inventor or designer who invented things to combat climate change would be one of the most amazing jobs in the world. Reflecting this love of creativity, nearly four in five children (79%) use their imagination to think about how they can make the world a better place. With international travel returning to normal, nearly all children (94%) say they’re thrilled to travel to more places with friends and family next year. Highlighting further children’s love of travel, 89% of children agreed that being able to travel to new places was one of the most exciting things they could do when they grow up. The thought of planes being powered by zero emission technology excites 88% of children – with nearly nine in ten (87%) excited to travel on these planes. easyJet’s first officer Debbie Thomas, who was on the judging panel, and is an engineer and zero-emission aircraft modeller said, “We had some amazing entries and were stunned and incredibly encouraged by the innovation we saw. Cerys and Lara have inspired us all with their winning designs – we’d love to see them join easyJet as engineers one day, working on zero-emission aircraft of the future.”
aircargoweek.com