Lufthansa takes care of cargo

AIRBORNE SOLUTIONS

AIR CARGO • MARK ARNOLD AT LUFTHANSA CARGO SPEAKS TO HCB, PROVIDING AN INSIGHT INTO HOW AIRLINES ARE KEEPING UP WITH GROWING VOLUMES OF DANGEROUS GOODS IN CARGO

THE POSSIBILITIES PRESENTED by air transport can vastly outweigh the benefits of alternative modes of transport, but when it comes to dangerous goods by air, precise expertise is needed. As a service provider, being able to safely and securely ensure the highest quality service for the passage of goods for clients is pivotal. But as the globe experiences a growth in air cargo, expanding numbers of international routes and constant regulatory changes, how can airlines keep ahead of the curve? “Lufthansa Cargo has qualified personnel to accept, inspect and handle dangerous goods at most of its stations worldwide,” says Mark Arnold, dangerous goods handling specialist at Lufthansa Cargo. “In Germany, dangerous goods are only accepted in Frankfurt. Due to its outstanding position as the Lufthansa Cargo Hub, Frankfurt is also the centre point for dangerous goods in transit from all over the world. As a result of this, a complete department of dangerous goods experts is available 24/7.”

Having access to correctly trained staff at all hours of the day is essential for the smooth running of a global operation that never closes its doors. Frankfurt airport’s CargoCity facility is able to handle all types of dangerous goods (apart from explosives) and provides storage solutions for more than 24 hours.

CONSTANTLY TRAINING The training processes employed by Lufthansa are based on the latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) requirements, explains Arnold. “This means biannual training for personnel in contact with dangerous goods transported by air.” This training is further divided into more specific requirements depending on the areas of responsibility for individual employees.

Arnold continues: “The handling of dangerous goods in air traffic is strongly regulated due to the resulting danger for passengers, crews and staff. For this reason, all Lufthansa Cargo processes and systems are based upon the latest release of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. These regulations cover the complete process chain of dangerous goods in air traffic down to the last detail. Furthermore, our dangerous goods experts are working with the official and latest version of the DGR book and/or software issued by IATA.”

The latest software presented by IATA is the integrated management solutions (IMX). As the air cargo industry is growing, more time is being spent on managing diverse components and vast quantities of data, so IMX has been developed to gather all quality management system and safety management system data in a user-friendly format. Furthermore, IMX provides seamless connections to the IATA Global Aviation Data Management database, STEADES, GDDB and ECCAIRS, plus many other beneficial functions such as automatic production of IOSA conformance reports.

DOES WHAT IT SAYS A concern that often arises when handling dangerous goods is that of undeclared goods. Sometimes it can be as simple as human error and incorrect labelling, but other times it can be an act of negligence with shippers knowingly not declaring the true nature of the product in the packaging to avoid tariffs, restrictions and paperwork. To combat this, Lufthansa enforces a policy that checks that everything is as it should be with the cargo. “During the documental and physical acceptance, an initial check of cargo and documents is carried out for possible indications of undeclared dangerous goods,” says Arnold. “In such situations, Lufthansa contacts the shipper and the goods are stored in a secured area until further action is taken by the customer.”

When looking at the industry as a whole and forecasting future developments, Lufthansa feels it is in a strong position to face any potential issues, but none appear to be brewing at the moment.

“Fortunately, there are no far-reaching problems regarding dangerous goods in aviation,” says Arnold. “The currently increasing tensions and the resulting trade barriers caused by international politics could lead to a degeneration of the market and thus to problems in the entire industry. However, I do not see the safety and the handling of dangerous goods affected.”

Even though the procedures surrounding dangerous goods are unlikely to be affected by current issues, being able to provide a higher quality service is always something to strive for. “In order to counteract these negative developments, Lufthansa Cargo is engaged in the implementation and introduction of the digital dangerous goods declaration in close cooperation with its customers. This is leading to leaner and more efficient processes and may help to overcome the growing barriers,” says Arnold. GOING PAPER-FREE The Electronic Dangerous Goods Shipper’s Declaration (e-DGD) has been developed from the realisation that there was a growing need by various stakeholders in the air cargo supply chain for a digital and paperless process to manage the IATA Dangerous Goods Shipper’s Declaration (DGD). The major benefit of the e-DGD is that data is available on platforms and is accessible to those who require it. The data sharing platform principle allows for a close collaboration between all stakeholders.

The use of solutions such as IMX and e-DGD is allowing Lufthansa to readily manage the growth that the industry is experiencing. This universal growth has led to a staggering diversity in types of goods needing transport across all routes, so being prepared for all forms of cargo request is pivotal. “Due to increasing globalisation, the volume of goods transported by air is increasing continuously, as is the volume of dangerous goods,” says Arnold (right).

In addition to the need to be prepared for all routes, there are still times when rapid regulatory changes come into force that lead to high-profile topics of discussion even outside of the industry. Arnold highlights one of the most recent occurrences: “Over the last couple of years, lithium batteries became the most outstanding topic in the airline industry. In respect to the rapidly growing amount and increasing awareness of the dangers posed by lithium batteries, customers and airlines were confronted with constantly changing regulations. This led to widespread uncertainty about lithium batteries that continues to this day.”

Elsewhere, Lufthansa has joined the ranks of other airlines by approving the use of the new CSafe RAP temperature-controlled container (HCB August 2019, page 30). Thorsten Braun, senior director of industry development and product management says of the approval: “To me it represents a typical win-win situation. With the addition of the CSafe RAP we are further expanding our portfolio of active cool containers, which is second to none, while intensifying our existing relationship with CSafe. In combination with our extensive global network, we are offering one of the leading cool containers to our customers!” HCB lufthansa-cargo.com

AS WITH OTHER MAJOR AIRLINES, LUFTHANSA CARGO IS

EXPERIENCING CONSISTENT GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF ALL

TYPES OF CARGO, AND THAT INCLUDES DANGEROUS GOODS,