FlyingTalkers By Geoffrey Arend
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Nice Picture, Nice Guy and Consummate Professional . . . Took this picture of Peter Penseel https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-penseel-8737385/ during Messe Muenchen https://www.linkedin.com/company/messemuenchen/ Air Cargo Europe in 2019. Beginning June 1, Peter currently serving as COO at CEVA Logistics https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceva-logistics/, assumes command at Delta Air Lines https://www.linkedin.com/company/delta-air-lines/ as SVP and President –Delta Cargo https://www.linkedin.com/company/delta-cargo/. Delta can only hope that “Lightening Can Strike Twice“, as here comes another air cargo superman who was born in the Netherlands, to an American flag airline’s top logistics post. Netherlands, the place where the culture for air cargo was driven by the likes of Jacques Ancher https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacques-ancher-71b0b666/ and Jan H. Meurer https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-h-meurer-4293246/ who at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.linkedin.com/company/klm/ Cargo developed an atmosphere that spawned some of the brainiest logisticians in the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
In a perfect world the following words would just make no sense. Yes, indeed, in a perfect world… We are talking about how much logistics, and air cargo in particular, is missing by overlooking women’s skills, but we are doing this sideways, as it is convenient at the FlyingTypers. Women’s skills can be ignored knowingly or as a habit, in any case it is a missed opportunity at best. This is not the main concept of this Podcast, but it cannot be ignored if you wish to fully understand its content.An accomplished businesswoman speaks hereunder and teaches us a few lessons. Make no mistake listening to Donna Mullins is a learning curve. There was so much to learn! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
It begn in February at Louisville Kentucky at Air Cargo and just ended March at Hong Kong at World Cargo Symposium. Here is an up clode and personal look at the people and business scene at air cargo trade show so far in 2024 and a peek ahead to what is next in April --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
- “Qatar Airways Cargo confirms that Mark Drusch has been appointed as Chief Officer Cargo effective immediately.” This in Qatar’s Press Release: “with over 25 years in senior airline management roles, Mark is a well-known figure in the aviation world. His most recent role was SVP Revenue Management, Alliances and Strategy at Qatar Airways where he led the development and implementation of the company’s revenue strategy as well as managing strategic alliances with key partner airlines. Prior to joining Qatar Airways, Mark spent 20 years at Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and Lufthansa LSG Sky Chefs as Senior Vice President where he led the transformation in commercial airline strategy execution, revenue management, network planning and alliances. In addition, Mark was CEO and co-founder of e-Rewards and e-Miles, leaders in online panel research and online advertising.” In other words, we are talking of a man with a distinguished background, were it necessary to remind the public. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
Doha,Qatar - “Qatar Airways Cargo confirms that Mark Drusch has been appointed as Chief Officer Cargo effective immediately.” This in Qatar’s Press Release: “with over 25 years in senior airline management roles, Mark is a well-known figure in the aviation world. His most recent role was SVP Revenue Management, Alliances and Strategy at Qatar Airways where he led the development and implementation of the company’s revenue strategy as well as managing strategic alliances with key partner airlines. Prior to joining Qatar Airways, Mark spent 20 years at Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and Lufthansa LSG Sky Chefs . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
If you want to learn about August Martin, the great air cargo pilot who flew for Seaboard World Airlines during the 1950’s, the name August Martin as an internet search, most often comes up as “August” 28, 1963,the day “Martin” Luther King whose birthday we celebrate Monday delivered his never to be forgotten “I Have A Dream,”speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. August Martin was a gentle man, who would be remembered in history as the first African American to serve as Captain on a U.S. scheduled flag carrier.Put another way, before “Augie” as his friends called him, there had never been a black airlinecaptain on the bridge of any U.S. airline. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
Now hear this here is the true cradle of modern air cargo thinking from some airline people long gone and nearly forgotten.Once upon a time there were two giant all cargo airlines operating from the USA to points internationally.From Los Angeles to the Pacific & Asia was Flying Tigers and from New York Across the Atlantic to Europe,Africa,the Middle East and India was Seaboard World Airlines.This is about Seaboard World Airlines and specifically some excellent people that learned air cargo from its people.On October 1, 1980 Seaboard World Airlines was absorbed by The Flying Tiger Line, Inc., and on December 16, 1988 The Flying Tiger Line, Inc., was absorbed by the Federal Express Corporation.I was thinking about people in our business recently watching Fred Smith on TV talking air cargo.Once upon a time there was John Mahoney at Seaboard talking air cargo. That was 50 years ago. Interesting that the last big time air cargo type, Smith out on the hustings commanding the widest audience of any airline executive in world history (he certainly has also been on top the longest) can look back to a time when big ideas of how to air cargo came from a company he ended up buying. Here we share some Seaboard thinking and also several direct quotes from Mahoney that in 2024 although the talk is aged as we move along 50 years later at jet speed, still makes perfectly good sense. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
Talked to Bob Rogers the force behind ULD Care. Bob is based in Hong Kong where Christmas and the New Year was celebrated with the "usual Hong Kong enthusiasm" and of course we are only a few weeks away from doubling down with Chinese New Year as Year of the Dragon approaches as a big celebration this year. So in January while the world takes off in 2024 is the last month of the Year of the Rabbit before February on the Chinese Zodiak Calendar debuts the Year of the Dragon . While hoping that we all still got some of good cosmic fortune left ULD Care is out with some good ideas on the subject closest to Mr. Rogers heart and as usual he is kicking the cans. We also share some further thoughts of our friend Bill Spohrer whose passing we first reported January 8,2023. Welcome to today's Flying Talkers! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
Return with us now to those glory days of international aviation yesteryear aboard The China Clipper. Speed Gibson is high adventure at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and its range was 3,200 miles (5,150 kilometers). Once upon time Pan Am was America's "airline to the world" and Hong Kong was mysterious and aviation and short wave radio were the way to go and tell the story. Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police was a radio adventure series written by Virginia Cooke. It was centered on the adventures of Speed Gibson, a fifteen-year-old pilot who, through his uncle Clint Barlow, becomes a member of the International Secret Police. Our gift to you just for fun. Happy New Year and best wishes for a great 2024 from your frinds at Flying Talkers --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
One From The Heart Here we take a deep dive right out of the gate as 2024 debuts into Alitalia and Italian air cargo. We also recall learning for sure of two fave books in the private library of Pope John Paul 11 . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
One of the joys of Summer, aside from the beach and the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eab_beh07HU and warmed up weather and outside get-togethers is cruising along with all of the same, during August, on a long, slow languorous glide, like the water ride at Palisade’s Park into September. No need to rush, we have time. Speaking of cruising there seems to be a lot of that going on right now. No need to blush either, boy: we have some other game in mind… The word cruising as well as the world of cruising hold some glamour, in particular in summer, although I can hardly imagine climbing aboard any ship with several thousand people onboard these days or doing anything unexpected now that we are all so much older and wiser, after COVID especially, right? Elsewhere the pencil and the sword, thin river-boats of Viking Cruises all over Europe hold some allure even here in North America, but they seem to be less daunting, a bit more manageable today than they would have in Lindisfarne about 1000 years ago. We are telling a tale of swift development in logistics and industry, far from battle and invasion. Great that YouTube and Amazon Prime TV here in the USA have picked up the narrow-boat phenomenon going on in the UK. Small boats, in fact barges of historical nature, carrying mostly coal in the past, are a history lesson in cargo transportation in the land where you can ply the over 4,000 miles of canals and imagine how these waterways and former tow paths sparked the Industrial Revolution, the Victorian Era and in fact were key in making Great Britain a world power. Actually the Thames remains today an antidote to London’s stifling traffic for some selected operators and as much as London, Amsterdam and New York have shaped global trade in the last four centuries, both grand and mean, depending… there are still so many smaller details in the waterways of Anglia that their full story cannot be entirely told. For me especially, during the Dog Days with heavy rain here in New York City recently, confined indoors by the weather, watching a You Tube sponsored series titled “Travels by Narrowboat” for a couple of sessions was informative and fun. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
Where do we go from here? Best Bets Smart advice.You decide... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
As Air Cargo Europe finally meets this week with people gathering from all over the world in Munich, the outstanding development since last we met is the emergence of a company branded PayCargo. PayCargo is the brain child of Cuban-born Eduardo del Riego, who came to the United States of America as a child and embraced the American Dream. What Eduardo did was invent a well-funded, top financial service company head and shoulders above any we have ever seen, that delivers air and sea cargo flexible and totally reliable financial services solutions. PayCargo is not only sweeping the nation and in just a few short years has become the best and most favored way to pay quickly and efficiently; right now PayCargo is expanding taking hold all over the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
LogiPharma was held April 25-27 in Lyon, France at Palais des congrès de Lyon. The event was slick well-organized and interesting, full of heavy duty business, and lots of people and action at a great venue. If you want to know where many of the airlines looking for business and new horizons post COVID were, they were in France discovering that engaging the pharma in 2023 is good over there, Pierre! "One From The Heart" recalls the life and times of our friend, the late Joachim Frigger. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geoffrey-arend/support
The theme for International Women’s Month this year is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” Who better to represent air cargo during International Women’s Month 2023 than Tulsi Nowlakha Mirchandaney, who is celebrating over five decades in air cargo. Tulsi is Managing Director and Accountable Manager of Blue Dart Aviation and is our lead off story as we launch Women’s Month 2023. Blue Dart is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and serves 7 Indian metro cities. Deutsche Post owns a 70% stake in the airline through its subsidiary Blue Dart Express. Blue Dart operates a fleet of 6 B757-200 freighters to leading India cities. “The only constant in my 28 years here,” Tulsi said unhesitatingly, “has been the enduring passion and resilience of the people who make up this amazing industry, and who have helped it grow and evolve through decades of varied challenges and turbulence”. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Fruit and vegetable lovers will be 'loving it up' at Berlin’s Annual Fruit Logistica all this week at the massive Berlin ExpoCenterCity and CityCube in Germany, February 8-10, 2023. It may come as a shock to some shippers to learn that one of the biggest challenges to safe handling of lithium batteries or lithium anything is the paperwork. Enter an IATA-initiative branded Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV), a process that now can assure auditing the action and providing confidence for lithium battery shipping. Created by IATA Cargo in 2021, Qatar Airways https://www.linkedin.com/company/qatar-airways/ and its global handler Qatar Aviation Services https://www.linkedin.com/company/qataraviationservices/ just received certification of the duo’s outstanding ongoing handling of lithium battery shipments. Qatar Aviation Services is the first ground-handling company to be certified in this manner globally. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
A Billion Here a Billion There . . . Remember the Price-Fixing Air Cargo Surcharges scandal that rocked the global air cargo industry in late 2010 when in Europe for example 11 legacy carriers were found guilty after Lufthansa and Swiss threw everybody under the bus and elsewhere got immunity, as eager prosecutors in countries around the world handed out fines? On again, off again, the case has continued for the past dozen years. In America and elsewhere once young lawyers looking to make political or law careers have entered middle age and still may still file an appeal. Well, while you were putting your kids through Grade School, High School & most of College if you have been (happily) married, (we hope so) for that long, the airlines have been fighting the price-fixing fines. Now apparently, finally Air France /KLM beat the rap on December 20, 2022, and were issued an annulment for their €3.9 million fine according to Linklaters (www.Linkaters.com http://www.linkaters.com/) I sat down at a favorite watering hole The Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station in New York City with the late Bruce McCaffrey the lifetime Qantas Cargo USA hand who ran North & South America and masterminded the Qantas Freight West Imperial cargo transfer facility at LAX, after he was thrown under the bus by Qantas. It was 2008 . In ill health, bowed but not broken, Bruce died a few years later. Recently Air France /KLM beat the"Price fixing" rap on December 20, 2022 joining a growing list of airlines, and were issued an annulment for their €3.9 million fine according to Linklaters (www.Linkaters.com http://www.linkaters.com/). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Bill Spohrer died December 16 in Sarasota, Florida at age 91. Air Cargo lost a giant that quietly walked among us and made one hell of a difference in air cargo, changing the face of Miami Airport completely by innovating that airport some decades ago, into the pole position of global leadership in perishables. It was Bill that changed "Corrosion Corner" in the air cargo area at Miami International into a huge refrigerator masquerading as an air cargo facility that eventually became a cornerstone of UPS operations at that gateway. Bill was the driver in the creation of The International Air Cargo Association where he served as that organization's first President. He also was instrumental in the founding of Air Cargo Americas. Both are forces for good in organized air cargo today. In the here today, gone tomorrow world of air cargo, Bill was for all seasons, and now he should be remembered as among the greatest air cargo builders of the 20th Century. Here is Bill's story, written in 1993 by the greatest aviation historian R.E.G. Davies, when Ron was Curator of Air Transport at The National Air Museum in Washington, D.C. Ron died in 2011, after many decades at NASM, having authored 30 books, including more than a dozen detailed histories of the leading airlines of the world and the Berlin Airlift. Happy New Year 2023! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Here is an update as trade shows begin to take shape for 2023. The International Air Cargo Association https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABkNtm0BBS9X8Y4B1Omd8u7mYAzoBpiki1s said its Executive Summit 2023 will be held in Brussels November 6-8, 2023 at the exquisite, recently renovated, historic Skyhall. Inaugurated in 1958, to receive the many visitors of the first post-war World Exhibition, Skyhall was nothing short of ground-breaking. One of its outstanding features was the 1,800-meter high, glass-fronted transit hall with its seemingly floating arched roof. Interestingly the TIACA Executive Summit will take place in Brussels almost one month to the date FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations https://www.linkedin.com/company/fiatafederation/ closes its World Congress Event (October 3-6, 2023) , making 2023 the year of a big double header win for BRU Gateway. Dare we imagine some interaction of these two stalwart world transportation organizations? TIACA said that it is working with Brussels Airport Company https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-brussels-airport-company-tbac/ to organize a first class conference, which will bring together over 300 decision makers from across the globe to network, showcase their companies and products, as well as learn and debate pressing issues affecting the entire industry. This story prepared by Marco Sorgetti includes a visit with iconic FIATA activist and airport expert Jean-Claude Delen --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
How Miami Landed Its First Asian Scheduled Carrier Once upon a time in 1994 I found myself in Taipei, Taiwan sitting at lunch with Peter Yap, who was the top cargo executive for China Airlines Cargo. At one point, Peter looked at me and said: “The trouble today is finding markets that offer great growth potential and also support from the local gateway. “Very rare,” Peter said. “Taiwanese people love to eat fish and we cannot get enough of it, competing with Europe and elsewhere.” I looked at Peter, who was eager to do business, and thought about Miami. Our company had personally served and followed the gateway since 1975 with distribution of our Air Cargo News publication. We delivered ACN to the cargo area at Miami, back when it was located in the part of the airport that served the U.S. Army during World War II. The place was called Miami International Air Depot, or MIAD. I also thought about the two detailed history books we created about the airport after Amaury Zuriarrain brought us in to meet General Manager Richard Judy. Legendary Dick Judy green lit the first book and later an all-cargo book about MIA Cargo created for Miami Aviation Director Gary Dellapa. I looked at Peter and said: “Peter, come to Miami, bring a freighter into South Florida where all the fish you need will swim right into the airplane, and you will make history.” Celebrating Michael Chowdry, one of the most successful people in the history of air cargo founded Atlas Air https://www.linkedin.com/company/atlas-air/ Worldwide 30 years ago. The Pakistani native began flying in 1993 with one 747 freighter. Today Atlas is the largest ACMI operator on the planet. It's been 21 years since that sad day on January 24, 2001 when Mike, who was only 46, died whilst piloting his jet in Watkins, Colorado with Jeff Cole, a reporter on board. Election Day Strange Choice For TIACA Opening The International Air Cargo Association TIACA https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-international-air-cargo-association/ Air Cargo Forum (ACF) begins on November 8 Election Day across the U.S., which means to attend the first day of TIACA, unless you can figure out how to get to an absentee voting center, how will you be in two places at the same time a week from this Tuesday? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
The Garden City Hotel in Long Island, New York with its distinctive cupola originally designed by Stanford White atop the structure, has been a landmark hostelry in New York for over 125 years. Here was the ground zero center of the global aviation universe for a couple of days in 1927, situated at the exact spot from where a young air mail pilot and soldier of fortune named Charles Lindbergh spent his last moments sleeping fitfully upstairs, resting his head on a pillow for a few hours, while downstairs the press corps plugged in the rest of the world to the news that an attempt was about to take place for one man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone. Soon enough “The Lone Eagle”, as Lindy was dubbed, emerged from his slumbers and took the short ride over to Roosevelt Field in the early morning mist. The flight that changed the world took off in a tiny monoplane, heavy with fuel that caused it to barely skim over the tree tops at the end of the runway. From that point, the world held its breath and followed that flight. The next evening when Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Field in France, the Garden City Hotel had hosted the first flier to cross the Atlantic. Today that Garden City Hotel no longer looks like it did in 1927: it was lost in a fire. In its place, The Garden City Hotel in 2022 is a big beautiful modern hostelry. It radiates opulence and success with few traces of its glorious past, aside from the one that has mattered for about 100 years. Surely this is the best place to celebrate reaching a milestone, with the greatest credentials tied to world avOn October 1st, EMO Trans Global Logistics people celebrated the 50th Anniversary of service to the U.S. In this place so hallowed to aviation the spirit and the finely crafted traditionalist hand of EMO U.S. founder, the late Joachim “Jo” Frigger was fondly remembered by Mr. EMO himself, Eckart Moltmann, who today at 84 travelled to honor and celebrate 50 years of service in the U.S. of the company now branded EMO Trans Global Logistics. EMO, an endearment attached to Eckart’s name as a young man, ended up being used as an "easy to remember and pronounce" branding device for the company he created in Stuttgart in 1965 as a one-man shop. EMO on this past Saturday night fondly recalled his friendship with Jo and admitted that he never dreamed that eventually the company he began, “would end in 2022 as a global power.” But this night’s celebration belonged to the visionary and inspirational leader of EMO Trans, Jo Frigger, his loss keenly felt in an outpouring of affection by those who knew him well. Today there is no doubt where the heart of EMO Trans beats: the EMO Trans World Headquarters, the seat of the global enterprise, is just down the street from the Garden City Hotel. Jo Frigger, it can be said without hesitation, is the person that put it all together in the U.S., half a century ago. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Today PayCargo pulled off a show stopper announcement at International Air Transport Association (IATA) https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-air-transport-association-iata/ World Cargo Symposium in London announcing that the financial service company is spreading its wings beyond North America into Europe, the Middle East and Asia. PayCargo also revealed that they will be expanding their product offering and will be providing payment solutions for air waybill charges in addition to the ancillary charges they do today. PayCargo brought in air cargo industry expert Michael White https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAEvtAgBecbTnb81Oc0uXx1sC76qOZdWilA to make it official at the World Cargo Symposium in London. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Busan Blockbuster Best Produced Logistics Show of 2022 The essence of the freight forwarding job is being the body and soul of the problem-solver. This particular nature comes to its acme at the FIATA World Congress every year and those who have the opportunity to participate will always return home with more value than they have brought into it. On 12th of September 2022 Ivan Petrov, President of FIATA, opened the FIATA World Congress in Busan Korea with a message of hope and achievement. His words resonated in the wonderful setup of the Congress venue in Busan, where hundreds of delegates flocked from all over the world, eager to meet again after the long hiatus caused by the pandemic. Mr. Petrov mentioned the Reset Program launched in 2019 entering a new chapter with big progress in digitalization, training and development, membership growth, marketing and events. Media report showed an excellent outcome: considerably increased FIATA’s global visibility, and recognition amongst international organizations, NGOs and UN structures at governmental level. Ivan unveiled the new FIATA mission statement: “FIATA is the largest Federation and voice of global logistics serving its entire eco-system. It is fostering the knowledge of its members to ensure a sustainable and resilient supply chain.” One more thing worth mentioning: The South Koreans are head and shoulders better at putting on a grand cargo show than anyone. Hats off to them for a great ,exciting and wonderful presentation at FIATA World Congress in Busan. Looking Ahead in 2022 Trade Shows: The International Air Cargo Association TIACA https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-international-air-cargo-association/ ACF waits in the wings for early November (8-11) in the Miami Beach pastel paradise. TIACA looks like the best bet, and for all the world as the big show of the season having added some additional organization numbers along the way. But we also hear that many show stalwarts, including the any meeting anywhere devotees, saying that while it is great to go face-to-face once again, business spending being what it is, and maybe just as importantly habits post pandemic, may see some show types and other regulars pulling in their trade show ambitions in 2023. So will Autumn 2022 be a one and done preview of back to hybrid meetings as a new normal? We hope not but check this channel as we are on this story every step of the way. Thanks for listening and for your loyal support. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Now come a few quiet weeks after which, from September until later November, air cargo trade shows will be front and center. But wait, the pandemic is still loose and people are still getting sick. The challenge seems to be for preventive methodology and medicine to position ourselves a half a step ahead of a disease that mutates quickly. While the dreaded face masks wait in the wings for now, a new global health emergency is rearing its ugly head called “monkey pox” and can be spread via surfaces where it lives for some time. We are sitting here writing what might take place at The FIATA World Congress in Busan, Korea during mid-September. Normally organizations are boastful of who some of the higher profile attendees will be. FIATA has posted this message to their trade show website: “Please note that the Local Organization Committee (LOC) cannot publish the list of the participants to the 2022 FIATA World Congress (FWC) on its website for privacy reasons. “Only registered participants will be able to access the participants list through the custom-made 2022 FWC App, which will be made available early September.” In May we reported several cases of COVID post Air Cargo India and combined meetings of United Airlines employees in New Orleans led to a rash of infections termed “super spreader events” by sources. So now we are at the doorstep of the Fall Trade Show season with IATA World Cargo Symposium scheduled for September 28th in London and the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) November 8 in Miami and Logitrans set for November 16-18 in beautiful Istanbul. So maybe the numbers will be a bit off for these shows. But what is your strategy if you are going? What can you expect or at least hope for at one or all of these events? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Talk about no guts, no glory—an overlooked, albeit quite courageous lady named Michelle DeFronzo has worked as an Airline Cargo Sales Agent (CSA) for 30 years. In 2000 she formed ImEx Cargo, a global logistics and air transport service provider. ImEx Cargo like most of us over the past few years fought its way through tremendous negative COVID impacts and was just beginning to recover as a contractor for the largest Russian cargo freighter airline AirBridgeCargo, then came the Ukraine War. ABC, a Russian flag has its own story operating the world’s largest cargo planes, including the now destroyed Antonov AN-225. Using the airline’s regularly scheduled service, ImEx powered businesses and agency organizations transport products, including pharmaceuticals, PPE, vitamins, equipment, machinery, aircraft parts, and livestock to specific global destinations. But now due to the sanctions driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ImEx Cargo found its business with ABC Cargo shut down and had to return all shipments that had used Russian transports that were in various customs areas ready for export. ImEx customers including shippers, end customers, and ImEx itself have all been lost to each other at this time in some or all part, orphaned in the fog of war. Michelle DeFronzo, talks about Putin’s war. She speak about it with great expertise and certainly with more experience that any other top female air cargo executive. Michelle is straight from the shoulder, right from the heart, telling it like it is. “I have been in the industry for 30-plus years and have started seeing some positive changes for women over the past 10-15 years. “More women are coming into the field and taking on more prominent roles; although it is not very common to see women in leadership positions. “At the top, air cargo is still a very male-dominated business and exponentially more difficult for women to advance. To secure contracts, I have had to learn more, know more, work harder for less money and prove myself, time and again. "My goal has always been to continue building this business by implementing strategies for competitive advantages and providing high-value added service. "ImEx Cargo has a compelling reputation in the local communities, and the community plays an essential role in expanding opportunities for airline partners. "We have earned the city, state, and federal government certifications for government contracts under the Supplier Diversity Program. This has been a work in progress, and we are developing partnerships for government contacts and companies with supplier diversity goals. We are certified for all states in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Air cargo, it seems, will always find a way to stay close and working together on the local basis almost everywhere in the world. But in truth events that bring together and actually move the marble, whilst searching for some big ideas from a host of attendees feel like they are fewer and further between. As you read about Ram Menen, a guiding spirit that raised Emirates SkyCargo from an afterthought to a great worldwide cargo resource and Des Vertannes, an innovative original thinker and very effective one time Head of Cargo at IATA before retirement, picture yourself landing and still engaged in some future situation even from double arms distance, and still loving it. What in some part accelerated Ram and Des to become who they are, and who they are to each other was a vital, energized industry and the people they came up and worked with all during their career. Right now air cargo is famous, respected and doing boffo landmark business all over the world. We believe that it’s a good thing to think of ways to preserve the vital open meeting format of the air cargo industry that in no small part produced these two gentleman and throughout the past sixty years, countless thousands of others. If you agree and would like to comment, or have something else to say, we would very much like to hear from you. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Listen Up As CNS Partnership Meets In Phoenix Here is Flying Talkers Podcast with details of last week in Geneva as Glyn Hughes, TIACA DG, and Brendan Sullivan, IATA Head of Cargo headlined the FIATA Headquarters Sessions. That deal between IATA and FIATA forged in 2016 that was supposed to make the peace between the airlines and the worlds largest organized forwarder group just did not work out. But something good just happened as revealed in an excellent job of reporting FIATA Headquarters Sessions created by Marco Sorgetti. Two top flight airline industry executives currently or at one time tied up with IATA gathered in Switzerland last week and participated in open and frank discussions at the FIATA Headquarters Sessions event held in Geneva May 18th. Glyn Hughes former Head of Cargo at IATA now DG at TIACA and Brendan Sullivan Head of Cargo at IATA were very much a part of the conversation that included whats new and maybe what’s next post COVID for airlines and forwarders. Both of these gentleman will undoubtedly be situate at Phoenix all this week as IATA Cargo Network Services (CNS) gathers for a 2022 comeback Annual Partnership Conference. So what can we expect to hear in terms of looking ahead at CNS might be interesting to preview here ? What is apparent (fingers crossed) is that our world of airlines and forwarders seem in step to working together a hell of a lot closer post pandemic. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Picking up the pieces of a historical disaster such as the COVID19 pandemic may not be anything one would wish to do, but reading the comments that economy analysts are sending to press this spring you get a chance to ask yourself what are these explanations trying to teach us and wonder. Looking at logistics, airlines and freight forwarders, that is more or less what I have been doing most of my life, your sense of amazed skepticism gains even more ground. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
Living near a street named Utopia Parkway in New York City, I suspect something unexpected could happen anytime. My great city is a kind of utopia in its own way and loyally prepares you for the unexpected. No wonder something unusual can lurk between the trade show resort meeting rooms and the golf course. Cargo Network Services (CNS) is conducting its Partnership Conference for air cargo in Phoenix beginning on May 23rd, as we just find out. I like the trade show sense of surprise. CNS, like all organized events, insists on some disciplined routine from participants and we shall be disciplined all right. Rerun In Hope Of A Result Last year we ran a story about how the hoped for cooperation between IATA and FIATA announced in Dublin in 2016 apparently was allowed to just slip slide away and did not happen. Since that time with everything else that is going on, we still wonder what happened? We think that the question deserves a clear answer from both parties: You raised a lot of hopes at the the airlines and forwarders for a new deal in cooperation between airlines and forwarders six years ago and then after launching some trial balloons in Canada, just let the cooperation fade away without so much as a long kiss goodbye. Can someone explain to the industry at large what happened? Get A Job! Here are some offers and contacts at BRU with a lyric table setter with thanks at the top for some lyrics from The Band. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
On the road again like hundreds or maybe thousands of others in logistics right now, Amar More, the Kale Logistics co-founder and Chief Executive Officer carries a business card that states in no uncertain terms: “Committed to transformation of global logistics industry”. Let us discover together why this is indeed a true statement, as many in our industry already know. We wonder about some of the drivers that moved and are still moving this company into a greater digital future in transport and logistics. Here you can get a sense of what Kale is all about to create a lead: https://www.kalelogistics.com/ and here are the questions to profile Amar More, who replied to us with his usual soft and effective eloquence; far from being a supercilious person, he even agreed on showing his email address in our feature. If you prefer to contact Kale directly with your additional questions, you’ll have no trouble reaching Amar by email: Amar.More@kalelogistics.com Joe McBryan & The Legacy Of Flying A DC-3 Joe McBryan is a modern day air cargo pioneer of aviation and air cargo. Over a half century he has pulled himself and Buffalo Airways up from the bootstraps first by flying supplies to little hard to reach villages in Northern Canada and also as an aerial firefighter, and maybe more importantly by lovingly keeping the art and ability of some 50 and even 80-year old aircraft not only together but also airworthy. Canada, for one reason or another, forbid Joe McBryan to fly passengers on one of his wonderful DC-3s via a regular schedule from Yellowknife to Hay River. The puddle jump at a couple thousand feet was a daily ritual used by commuters, business people and tourists turned a six-hour drive into a 121-mile blast from the past air journey. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geoffrey-arend/support
