Christa Soltau becomes Vice President of Cargo and Logistics at Budapest Airport, effective January 2010

“Budapest is the perfect location and has huge potential for being the cargo hub for Eastern Europe” states Christa. “We will develop the cargo division and logistics infrastructure with a view to handling flights especially from Asia and the Americas. Distribution facilities throughout the region will also play an important role.”

Since staring her career in 1988, Christa has held top level management posts in airport and cargo development with Munich Airport, project management at Hochtief airport company, Düsseldorf Cargo Logistics, and Dubai World Central.

29 January 2010

AIRPORT OPERATIONS VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM IN USE AT PARIS CDG AIRPORT

OPERATIONS ON SCREEN – XOPS is the unique tool which enables visual control, planning and project simulation of all airport vehicles. It has been developed over the last decade but has already been operating successfully at Paris CDG Airport for some four years.. Veolia Airport Services, Air France, WFS, Sodexi, Keolis and Flybus already rely on XOPS which has become the industry reference for the visual control of the movements of their fleets. The system monitors all linked operations such as for example, cleaning, fuelling, passenger transfers and baggage, or distribution of cargo pallets to and from aircraft. XOPS combines geolocation, television and video transmission as well as all the available techniques for data seizure such as PDA, RFID, bar codes etc.

The XOPS technology, is the property of BS Reso Net- Resonate, who also developed the software for different airlines applications and multimedia operators. This airport infrastructure is derived from the Astus system, an established fleet management tool, the principle objectives of which are to assist fleet managers to control all movements of vehicles, costs, driver deployment, security and productivity This concept sets out to maximize the utilisation of mobile equipment throughout the airport On any typical large airport or high vehicle intensity site.

Jean-François Bouilhaguet, Managing Director of Sodexi the Express handling division of Air France Cargo, has deployed the system throughout his operation. He explains. “The system not only has the potential to revolutionise airport handling operations at Paris airports, but also at all airports and other industrial sites employing fleets of mobile units.. The technology can function alongside other systems such as GPS and wireless communication. A major initial application of the system has been installed at Paris CDG Airport where around 7000 vehicles of all types are in operation.
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“After some seven years of development, XOPS has emerged as the software solution for real time control of mobile equipment in the warehouse and on the ramp. XOPS functions in a number of areas. From a central monitor, it keeps visual control of vehicles and is able to instruct drivers with real time data such as an aircraft’s late arrival or change of gate or the positioning of ramp handling equipment. The system can also be applied to tasks such as fuel distribution and the positioning of maintenance equipment. It can also accurately calculate charges and invoicing and at the same time perform vital security supervision.

“It’s simple in theory: the operation relies on a tight network of communication between the airlines, ground handlers, cargo forwarders and other players on the airport. The system is paperless, accessed through an internet portal or local network and allows handlers to make the best possible use of their existing equipment as “pooling” It is now possible, to track all movements by GPS, and monitor them on camera, synchronization between Geolocation and Video is in the pipeline. XOPS will enable participants to store automatically their video records about movements. Then Handling companies or airlines could easily check afterwards operations around aircraft. XOPS, along with other new partners, is also extending its activity to cover urban applications. The aim is to monitor city services, reduce CO2 emissions and to achieve optimum efficiency of vehicles”.

The system will be on show at the Dubai Airport show in April.

As has been well reported throughtout the air cargo media, the industry has responded magnificently as always.

Whenever there is a disaster, natural or man made, this hard pressed and often maligned sector of the transport industry invariably puts its neck on the line to save lives.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who is supporting this action, and hope that 2010 will be a more positive year.

Thanks to its strategic position at the heart of Germany’s most active and dynamic business region, Düsseldorf International Airport has become increasingly top choice for passengers and cargo. The airport regularly serves around 185 destinations worldwide, by far the most comprehensive in Northern Germany. With this many routes available, including North and South America, the Middle and Far East and Africa, it is the ideal choice for cargo customers, seeking rapid transit solutions for imports and exports. Germany’s third largest airport, located on the North-South and East-West axis, serves a market of over 18 million high income residents, living within a radius of 100 kilometers. With the Dutch border just 60 kilometers away, the Benelux market is also easily accessed especially by cargo customers whose Netherlands based operations are saving not only transit time and cost, but also reducing ever more critical CO2 emissions.

There is a large and highly active group of freight forwarders at the cargo centre serving the busy industrial and distribution sector.. Over 22% of Germany’s GDP as well as 20% of export volume, originates in North Rhine Westphalia, of which Düsseldorf is the distribution nerve centre and State Capital.

In addition to the unrivalled belly hold capacity which accounts for 90% of all cargo at Düsseldorf, the airport also enjoys an excellent track record as a Freighter Friendly hub, regularly handling scheduled, charters and ad hoc flights. The airport can handle all kinds of freighters, narrow and wide bodied including B747, A310 or AN 124.. Even with a curfew between 22.00-6am, nearly all operators’ needs can be accommodated with experienced and skilled teams at hand.

India is regarded as a most important and expanding market. The business links to the power house of Europe will certainly be developed in the near future. Düsseldorf’s vital industrial community is keen to develop more business links with Indian partners. The cargo management team at Düsseldorf always cooperates closely in partnership with forwarders and their shippers.

We are delighted to sponsor this exciting event and feel sure that there will be great potential for doing business with the many Indian based airlines, GSAs and forwarders and shippers whom we are looking forward to meeting at this show.

As part of its strategy of streamlining the processes within its freight division,The airport cargo committee (ACCC), led by Alexios Sioris and his team, defined Customs as one area of potential improvement. During 2008 veteran Customs expert, Georgios Vitos joined the group to suggest solutions for not only improving the flow of both import and export traffic, but to bring Athens in line with Greece’s EU colleagues and competitors. He has spent some 35 years in the Greek Customs service both at home and in Brussels and brings a wealth of experience to bring to the table.

“The structure of the Customs administration in the framework of the general public administration is rather cumbersome. Its challenge is to balance the relationship of protecting state interests with the needs of commercial operators. Customs officials try to control every action during the working process resulting in a great deal of detailed work for Customs officials and disproportionate pressure on commercial operators. The high volume of community legislation, is combined with an old-fashioned system of training and methods. From the shippers; point of view, processes sometimes take too long and lack transparency.

“As far as other countries are concerned, I don’t know the Customs of all countries that well, but from those that I have visited and from the experience I’ve had during my work in the permanent representation of Greece to the European Union, I think Netherlands probably has the most efficient Customs administration evolving efficient systems of control without increasing the formalities to business customers. I am confident that we can learn from our neighbours with simplified procedures.

Furthermore, the introduction of advanced electronic declaration under the rules of World Customs Organisation (WCO) will force more efficiency into the global process. Already adopted by the USA, as the main initiating country, followed by Canada and India, EU countries should apply these rules from 1st July 2009, but due to the time needed to install the systems, the start date has been postponed to the 1st of January 2011. All main countries and Customs unions of the world will apply these rules that will strengthen the safety and security of the international trade.

“I think commercial operators dealing with Customs must master the legislation, and insist on the application of modern working methods. The modernisation of Customs operational framework is not just the responsibility of Customs administration only, the private sector must participate actively. It will require a joint team approach to really create a smooth and seamless traffic flow through our national airport, if we can achieve this, the future potential for Greece is enormous.”

Alexios Sioris, manager of cargo development reports that at the end of year review 6 out of 16 various issues have been resolved, mainly thanks to contributions from Georgios Vitos working closely with the joint cargo committee. Relations Customs and the operators are working well.

 I have met so many people at trade shows around the world over the years, and of course so often they say “Do you have a website?” I confess that up until now the answer has been “No!”! Not anymore!. We are pleased to present ourselves through this website, and will be pleased to hear from anyone in the industry, from anywhere in the world who might be interested in using some of our specialist services. Although the language of aircargo is English, we are able to offer press services in most languages, employing some excellent bi-lingual journalists who can not only translate, but can write in the current lanaguage of their national publications. I would be pleased to hear from you.

This has been a tough year for the air cargo industry, but at least pallets, ULDs and packages get to sit down! In the name of progress, Spring Airlines, the Chinese low-cost carrier has been urging other budget airlines to follow their lead and do away with unnecessary luxuries such as seats! The idea is to fly over 200 passengers strapped in a near-upright position and to arrange passengers by height, the shortest by the window and tallest by the aisle. Of course, the plan must first gain regulatory approval, aircraft manufacturers will have to change their entire productions to system to create a suitable aircraft. Neither Boeing nor Airbus has so far accepted the suggestion. Short haul passengers would be strapped to vertical boards which are tilted backwards slightly. Colleagues in the air cargo business might well consider checking themselves in as parcel class.

IATA World Cargo Symposium -Vancouver, CANADA – 08-11 March 2010

SITL 2010 – Villepinte, France – 23-26 March 2010

Supply Chain World – Brussels, Belgium – 24 March 2010

Commercial Aviation Forum – Geneva, Switzerland – 24-25 March 2010

Hortec 2010 – Nairobi, Kenya – 24-26 March 2010

China Air Cargo Summit – Bejing, China – 20-21 April 2010

Freighters World Conference – London, England – 22-23 April 2010

Cargo Airline of the Year – London, England – 24 April 2010

Airport Expo Dubai – Dubai, U.A.E – 25-27 April 2010

Afghanistan Cargo Logistics – Istanbul, Turkey – 26-28 April 2010

European Seafood Exhb – Brussels, Belgium – 27-29 April 2010

TransRussia 2010 – Moscow, Russia – 27-30 April 2010

Cool Chain’s AGM – Berlin, Germany – 06-07 May 2010

TIACA’s Summit & AGM – Leipzig, Germany – 16-18 May 2010

Caspian International – Baku, Azerbaijan – 01-04 June 2010

World Air Transport Summit – Berlin, German – 06-08 June 2010

Air Cargo China – Shanghai, China – 08-10 June 2010

Air Cargo Handling Conference – Brussels, Belgium – 15-16 June 2010

Farnborough Airshow – Farnborough, UK – 19-25 July 2010

World Route Development – Vancouver, Canada – 19-21 September 2010

Cool Logistics – Hamburg, Germany – 20-22 September 2010

World Cargo Connections – Hong Kong, China – 26-29 September 2010

Annual Aircraft Symposium – Miami, USA – October 2010 (tbc)

FIATA World Congress – Bangkok, Thailand – 04-08 October 2010

Horti Fair – Amsterdam, Netherlands – 12-15 October 2010

Int’l Air Cargo Forum – Amsterdam, Netherlands – 02-04 November 2010

 Based at Paris CDG, SODEXI, the express handling division of Air France Cargo, introduces, Harmony, an innovative concept to reduce waste and improve efficiency on the airport. The primary initiative is to maximize the under-used capacity of mobile equipment throughout airport operations. So often Airlines and handlers continue to expand their fleets of vehicles, including tractors, loaders, mobile stairs etc . The harmony concept pools all equipment capacity so that operators can ensure the right equipment is in place on time with no waste or duplication but an increase in profitability.

Jean-Francois Bouilhaguet, Managing Director of Sodexi, briefly explains the two initiatives which have the potential to revolutionise airport handling operations in the Paris airports, but also at all airports and indeed other industrial sites involving fleets of mobile units.

“The key to both of these initiatives is “Harmony,” which encapsulates our vision of a corporate world where industry sectors and company branches work in unison thus avoiding wasteful competition and duplication of resources. Harmony is at the core of Sodexi’s current Express Freight operation, an efficient, computer-controlled and completely paperless operation which forms a substantial part of the Air France cargo network at Charles De Gaulle. The Harmony system will focus on utilising existing capacity and equipment rather than investing in new;

“After some seven years of development, XOPS is Sodexi’s software solution for real time control of mobile equipment in the warehouse and on the ramp. XOPS, meaning OPERATIONS ON SCREEN, functions in a number of areas. From a central monitor, it keeps visual control of vehicles and is able to instruct drivers with real time data such as an aircraft’s late arrival or change of gate or the positioning of ramp handling equipment. The system can also be applied to tasks such as fuel distribution and the positioning of maintenance equipment. It can also accurately calculate charges and invoicing and at the same time perform vital security supervision.

“It’s simple in theory: the operation relies on a tight network of communication between the airlines, ground handlers, cargo forwarders and other players on the airport. The system is paperless, accessed through an internet portal or local network and allows handlers to make the best possible use of their existing equipment as “pooling” It is now possible, to track all movements by GPS, and monitor them on camera.”

XOPS has been jointly developed by Crispico BS RNET together with Nashtec, the French branch of ASTUS, a Canadian specialist in GPS and electronic vehicle systems.

Sodexi, part of the Air France cargo network, provides fast, efficient handling of Express cargo at its computer controlled airside facility at Paris CDG airport. Apart from traffic from the Air France network, the company handles the Equation service for all Skyteam members as well as handling many other airlines plus FedEx, TNT, DHL, Chronopost and various specialist express forwarders. Another feature is the unique Express supermarket where customers and partners work within the Sodexi building, often sharing staff. The company, under the direction of Jean-Francois Bouilhaguet, has been a leader in innovation a willingness to introduce new ideas and technology for improving speed and efficiency.

2 July 2009

For further information contact: Jean-Francois Bouilhaguet
Email: jfbouilhaguet@sodexi.fr
Or Michael.sales@ imccreations.com