Flyingtypers Cargo Talks!

Indication that the COVID-19 pandemic has heated up the investment community for air cargo and especially folks deep dish into digitalization is acknowledged as M33 Growth, a Boston-based venture capital firm showed up at SmartKargo with a suitcase full of investment money. Globalization In Real Decline? As long as there is cheap labor and low environmental requirements overseas, don’t expect offshoring of supplies to stop anytime soon. An India Air Handling the vaccines is Cargo Service Center’s (CSC). Along with Mumbai, CSC operates cargo terminals at Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kannur.  Tushar Jani, Group Chairman pointed out that “as far as CSC and Mumbai airport are concerned, we are already the biggest vaccine temperature-controlled air cargo handler in India. “Our infrastructure was ready and with enhanced capacity and use of new technology for CSC and Mumbai airport, it was a smooth process to accept this challenge." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

One From The Heart “We benefit from her self-awareness, empathy and social skills that helps to navigate complex situations. “She is the heart of our company,” Ingo Zimmer, CEO ATC Aviation Services says of Dagmar Hanau. Why Guillaume Halleux Guillaume Halleux Chief Cargo Officer at Qatar Airways is a Frenchman, who decades prior began his air cargo career from a split hangar in London that Air France operated with half full of Concorde parts and the other half full of air cargo. Guillaume, who has since served as an expatriate air cargo builder in several posts around the world, began his climb working nuts and bolts inventory for the Concorde SST section of that hangar in London, where eventually he became fascinated with air cargo. Greatest Commercial Aviation Historian REG Davies, who served as a historian at Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, D.C. longer than anybody else, died a decade ago on July 30, 2011 in Shaftsbury, England. He remains today the greatest and most

“People have space in their ultimate sanctuary, their homes, allotted for living. “To make the transition from the office easier and more familiar we handed over office equipment, including ATC laptops and personal computers and also even office furniture for use at home," said Ingo Zimmer, CEO of ATC, the world's leading GSSA. Too Cool At a time in life when everything is changing, the McCools, both father Sean and son Ian have collectively been a constant of the Irish air cargo scene for more than 70 years. Today their company established by Sean in 1989, International Airlines Marketing Ltd. (IAM) is Ireland’s largest Air Cargo General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA), responsible for over 20 percent of all airfreight traffic from Ireland. Women's Day Just in time for International Women’s Day March 8, Dorothea von Boxberg , Chairperson of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Cargo is also the happy face amongst us reporting 2020 delivered the best results in history for air cargo ai

In aviation the letters spoken as a word reporting flying conditions is WOXOF. "Weather: Overcast, Ceiling Obscured, Visibility Zero in Fog." Pronounced like it looks: "WOXOF”  when spoken most often gets the same response from everyone, especially pilots: “You're not getting me up in that.” Here in COVID-19 2021 as the year progresses and Spring begins, through the fog, there are some questions with everyone working at maximum overdrive, whilst delivering life-saving vaccines worldwide.  WOXOF-“Where Are We Now?” Lord Love A Nurse Karin Krestan stepped  down February 17 taking early retirement as Head of the Lufthansa Cargo Cool Center in Frankfurt. The lady pioneer of critical air cargo handling, who once served as a nurse’s aide at a hospital in nearby Darmstadt, Germany, joins an unusually large number of transportation professionals that seem to be taking early retirement everywhere across our industry just as demand for top line professionals increases. Voyage of Discovery From the mailb

Basil Pietersen Brings The Rainbow To FIATA As COVID-19 has severely limited public events for the past fourteen months , you may have missed that late in 2019  at it's World Congress in Cape Town FIATA elected  Basil L.S. Pietersen, the former Chair and longtime director of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders to serve a two-year term as President of the global organization.As we celebrate Black History Month here in America and elsewhere around the world, it’s important to share that Mr. Pietersen at FIATA in 2021 is one of the very few African born top executives to serve at any global transportation association in the world. Where The Nights Are Brighter Than Day Why are we so interested in Qatar? Well, it’s the airways, dear… The airways are the carriers of innovation and prosperity for the world, what else? Qatar Airways has been turning the moon to gold for the “Night Animal”, as the air cargo industry has been referred to in some quarters for the past 80 plus years. So t

Last week Turkish Cargo Talks a three- hour webinar went out worldwide. We watched it. Here is our take. The event opened with about five minutes from host Smilin’ Sam Chui. Chui is a reality star who flies around and eats dinner in first class on everybody’s airline and shares the experience with his large global audience living vicariously every mile aloft. We Remember Boubby Once upon a time in Amsterdam KLM Cargo was operated by a team of people the stars fell on. This group went out and changed air cargo all over the world and their impact endures yet today at KLM and elsewhere. There was Jacques Ancher, the top cargo executive blazing new trails, and there was Boubby Grin a marketing and strategy guru, the likes of which our industry had never before encountered, and may never see again. Jacques is OK, safe at home in Netherlands as you read this. Boubby Grin died of cancer in Leiden at age 74 on January 28, 2021. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

Having launched FlyingTalkers, a weekly podcast every Monday for air cargo 18 months ago, I guess we could only expect that it would just be a matter of time until someone  came along and branded Cargo Talks. Turkish Airlines Cargo is putting up Cargo Talks, a first-time webinar that takes place beginning at 11:30 GMT Tuesday February 10. Rates Clobber India Flower Exports The flower farms at Bengaluru, Pune and a few other places are alive with color but this has not brought smiles to the growers and exporters. Reason: Covid-19 and its aftermath. Let’s separate the signal from the noise. Praveen Sharma, President, Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (IFSP) was blunt when he told FlyingTalkers: “2020 was the toughest year in the recent past for Indian flower growers for two reasons: the Covid-19 lockdown and the Nisarg Cyclone.” Kung Hei Fat Choi It is Lunar New Year: 2021 is the Year of the Ox. The new moon on February 11 heralds a new year that begins on Feb. 12, according to the lunar calenda

For a while most people in air cargo transportation knew Lionel Van der Walt from the time he served as President of Cargo Network Services (CNS). All of that has changed because for some time now Lionel has served as CEO of fast-rising PayCargo. The thing about Lionel is that he is a genuine good guy. He listens well, is not fearful of tough decisions and standing up for what is right. Most endearing, to us at least, is that he is somebody always willing to lend a helping hand. A money guy with heart, what a concept! Lionel van der Walt has the milk of human kindness by the quart in every vein. COVID Will Shut Down 2021 Meetings OK we get it that you are desperate to get out to a meeting. But hear this  . . . it is February, a grim first anniversary of the world in the grip of COVID-19, and the pandemic is still raging everywhere. So do the math, and have a reality check: Truth be told, there is about an ice-cube’s chance in hell that any air cargo trade shows or live gatherings make much sense rig

Last year in early March as the COVID-19 began raging and we were all locked down wondering what would happen next, the tulip beds springing back to life around our home sent their quiet message of life and renewal and beauty. In uncertain times being able to slow down a bit and contemplate the flowers works. Undoubtedly if you work in the flower business whether growing or selling or shipping you have felt that a special affection endures. We spoke to Joost Bongaerts the owner and President of California based Florabundance.  Spend a few minutes with this gentleman and you will know what we mean. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

In the U.S. on Monday January 18, our nation celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther KIng. MLK Monday comes along just as the nation is about to welcome a new President after many months of political acrimony and unrest, and with COVID-19 still the continued threat to lives everywhere. With a tip of our hat to Rev. King always, we continue FlyingTalkers groundbreaking series covering the courageous women of air cargo and aviation with a look back at pioneering aviatrix Bessie Coleman. Next month America celebrates Black History Month, and March is Women’s History Month; It feels right today to celebrate  the life of a  beautiful human who is also as historically significant as Bessie Coleman. To paraphrase musicologist Edward A. Ellington: "If it feels good, it is good," said the Duke. Our Martin Changed Air Cargo If you want to learn about August Martin, the great air cargo pilot who flew for Seaboard World Airlines during the 1950’s, and was also the first black man to captain a U.S. flag

When Jan Krems began his tenure four years ago as top cargo executive at United Airlines Worldwide Cargo as President we wrote: “Winston Churchill said of Franklin Roosevelt that 'meeting him was like uncorking your first bottle of champagne,' which is exactly what best describes talking to Jan Krems, President of United Airlines Cargo." Face-to-face or on Zoom, take your pick, Jan comes across as a very broad thinker and a brilliant air cargo mind. But he also seems a very approachable guy who knows how to both motivate people and thought and have some fun as well. United Cargo business is on fire all over the world setting new records, having moved somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 cargo only flights. Right Now Krems and his team have UA Cargo out front and pulling away from every other U.S. flag combination carrier in the air cargo business. A LaGuardia Love Affair Hard to believe that I have been having this affair in public for the past 43 years. She is  beautiful, one of a kind. And still tod

There is a celebration this week in New York City. The nearly three quarters of a million people that are mostly commuters going to and from work in New York & New Jersey have been forced to travel pre-pandemic through Pennsylvania (Penn) Station in Manhattan, a daily subterranean dismal railroad encounter since the misdirected destruction in 1963 of the monumental Beaux Arts 1910 version of Penn Station. These commuters will get some relief beginning later this week when a new passenger experience begins on January 1st. Happy New Year 2021! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

A moving holiday essay from a loving daughter decorates and drives our holiday spirit this muted Christmas 2020 during COVID-19. Here is how Christmas ought to be, ,once was , and pray will be again, when the Pandemic of 2020 finally moves into the rear view mirror. Florence Arend(we call her Flossie, takes off the gloves and paints a powerful word picture of her Christmas. "Every year around this time, I struggle to find new words to offer to our loyal FlyingTypers’ readers. I am not immune to the warm responses inspired by our annual Christmas story, and I would be posturing if I said it doesn’t feel good to know it is so well received. However, the pressure mounts to say something new; to not rehash the things you already know; to provide some meaningful insight into our holiday gathering.     You know we are a family business in an age when most companies yearn to proclaim that simply for the feel-good cachet it affords them. People love a good legacy story. We just celebrated our 45th

Having spent most of my life in logistics, when we started talking about COVID19 vaccines in the springtime I was anticipating the greatest logistics challenge of our times: delivering COVID19 vaccines as soon as available to thousands if not millions of POU’s all over the world. Famously we recall challenges such as the Berlin Airlift which kept west Berlin alive in times of cold war, perhaps less famously but even more challenging we record the yearly feat of delivering the Beaujolais Nouveau wine to the five continents, ready for its grand opening every autumn. This year of 2020, a year loathed by most, will nonetheless witness the kick-start of the largest logistics operation of all times. We have had ways of understanding that 2020 is one of a kind. This is especially true in logistics, and will be on our records for many years to come. Here  from Marco in Turin is the latest news from Europe  as  vaccine deliveries worldwide quicken and Christmastide promises to be like none other in

Ronald Edward George (REG) Davies is probably someone you may not have heard about. Davies died in England nine years ago at age 90. Simply said, REG Davies was and today remains the greatest and most prolific airline historian that ever lived anywhere in the world. His legacy to aviation, captured in 25 books and other social efforts, are as pioneering and important in scope as many of the subjects he wrote about including Lindbergh, Earhart, Berlin Airlift and almost every major airline in the world, past and present. His service via his immense output of books and research and work as the very first Curator of Air Transport at the National Air & Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, D.C. is detailed and enormous. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

This could be the week that the world has been waiting for as that now imminent vaccine is on the boards to begin deliveries. From India to Indiana, the world will be able to breathe a long sigh of relief as air cargo jumps centerstage to commence what could be the greatest airlift in history. But are we ready? Here we talk to some leading transportation professionals of India. The Flying Cool Warehouse "Opticooler protects the most temperature sensitive and risky cargo and is a flying cool warehouse, at any climate and any temperature offering  almost unlimited runtime (compared to passive solutions),"  says Andreas Seitz.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

Here  just for Thanksgiving in America 2020, we step back a bit and widen our scope revisiting one of most famous "airport happenings" in New York City history. The date was February 7, 1964 and the great international airport for New York City John. F. Kennedy International Airport  (JFK) said hello  to the Beatles musical group and the city went wild. Actually the story of that flight has been well documented during the past 55 years in all aspects but one. What about the people that handled the flights and the ground support for that epoch trip? Here we include personal recollections of cabin crew and ground people alike in a romp that also relives the golden days of Pan American World Airways during a time when Pan Am was America's Airline To The World. Thanks to Michael Webber who created this piece , despite the lockdown and COVID-19, we all get a "Ticket To Ride". --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

Stanley Lim Pioneering Singapore-based freight forwarder and Member of the Extended FIATA Board says:  “A lot is happening in FIATA:  the reset idea is very good, but there are issues. FIATA has gone through a complete overhaul within a few months, in one of the most complex times of our lives due to the pandemic. I am fully committed to assist and my impression is that the new management would have an advantage to count on experienced members who recognize the demanding tasks of the association.” Knocking Around The Zoo By now our regular listeners have known Jim Larsen who served the pioneering all cargo U.S. carrier Seaboard World Airlines, and later as cargo marketing manger at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Jim, as we have learned as we approach the 20th Anniversary of that terrible day, was a genuine hero of 911 as he rescued fellow workers from One World Trade Center.. That inspiring story will appear here on New Year's Day 2021. Here Jim shares a lighter hearted story of an

In less than two weeks the curtain will ring down on a career that has endured at an airline, nearly 46 years or since Gerald Ford was USA President and Helmut Schmidt served as Chancellor of The Federal Republic of Germany. In Frankfurt, when Heide Enfield packs it in and retires on November 30 and says her last farewell, she will also bring to close a family affiliation in the airline business that dates back almost as far as the creation and development of post 1950s modern commercial aviation in Germany. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support

These days more often than not we hear some new language  driven by the COVID-19 global pandemic “We are OK, safe inside of our bubble.” I have often wondered how secure some of these perceived ‘bubbles” are. Also think of our Son’ Geoffrey 11 about 20 years ago the day he left Queens New York and headed out to Hollywood where he starred as Flipper Boy in his first big production movie titled Bubble Boy. Today I guess we all live in some kind of bubble and like the Bubble Boy in Guffy’s movie, we all have to learn how live breathe and think and move around for some time longer inside it. Webber Weaves A Tale S/H Mike Webber has contributed a diverse array of articles to Flying Typers over the years. From data-rich state-of-the-industry overviews to features about the Beatles’ arrivals at JFK and LAX that were shared in music (and Pan Am) forums where Flying Typers doesn’t typically land. An Autumn Serenade For 2020 “Our look into the future must be guided by intelligence, experience, and common sense.&n