Fenix Logistix invests in Irish operations

FLI_GHI001_ElectricPushback resizedFenix Logistix has invested in its Irish firm, Fenix Logistix Ireland to develop business opportunities in Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe.

The Dublin-based ground handling and logistics firm, Fenix Logistix Ireland (FLie) was established during one of the most challenging times in aviation history and will meet the needs of the continually changing commercial aviation market, focusing on professional staff and modern technology.

The Seattle headquartered parent company says the investment will strength Fenix’s brand and along with sharing knowledge and core competencies from its US operations, Fenix in Ireland will enjoy synergies of multi-national operations.

FLie started 2022 with the acquisition of RED Handling UK from Norwegian Airlines, which became a wholly owned subsidiary on 1 January.

RED Handling, based at London’s Gatwick Airport was established in 2016 as a test model to provide Norwegian a dedicated handling company for its largest hub outside Scandinavia.

Unifi takes on aha! Airlines at 10th station

Unifi-Team-aha-Airlines resizedUnifi has started serving aha! Airlines at its 10th station, starting operations at Palm Springs International Airport on 3 January.

The ground handler provides aha! with ground handling operations and passenger services for over 50 flights a week.

The two companies started their partnership on 24 October at Reno-Tahoe International Airport helping ExpressJet Airlines relaunch flight operations for its leisure brand.

Gautam Thakkar, CEO of Unifi says: “By providing full ground handling services to 10 of their 11 locations, we’re happy to be their largest ground-handling partner. We’re committed to providing aha! the high-level service Unifi is known for and strengthening our relationship into the future.”

Unifi provides aha! with ground handling services at Bakersfield, Fresno, Ontario and Palm Springs in California, at Eugene, Medford and Redmond in Oregon, Pasco/Tri-Cities and Spokane in Washington, and Reno in Nevada.

From the magazine: Going Underground with Aircraft Towing Systems

ATS artist impressionMaking aircraft more efficient is very important for improving sustainability but what can be done when they are on the ground? Deputy Editor James Muir spoke to Aircraft Towing Systems (ATS) World Wide about its game-changing proposal.

As aviation grows, so will its contribution to global carbon dioxide emissions. Aircraft are considerably more efficient than they used to be but they still use significant amounts of fuel and emit harmful gases. According to the report Decarbonizing Aviation: Cleared for Take Off, almost 10% of emission reductions can be achieved by fixing inefficiencies when aircraft are taxiing and waiting to take off.

Aircraft Towing Systems (ATS) World Wide has developed a towing system that could not only save the airlines considerable amounts of money through reducing fuel use, but also make operations safer. Its system works on a rail, with the pilot taxiing onto the towing system and once the nose landing gear is secure, they can turn the main jet engines off and relax. In a pre-engineered pattern, the towing system, which runs along a rail embedded in an underground channel, then tows the aircraft to the gate and back to the runway.

It has three primary components, a channel in the ground covered in steel plates, a pullcar in the ground powered by an electric car motor that drives hydraulic pumps driving hydraulic motors that clamp on a monorail in the bottom of the channel and software. The pullcar is connected through the cover plates to the tow dolly. The tow dolly looks like a round disc with ramps on each end for the aircraft’s nose landing gear to drive upon. Then the pilot shuts off the engines, which is “when all the good stuff starts happening”, in the words of Vince Howie, CEO of ATS World Wide. Fuel is saved, emissions are not emitted, noise is reduced and the aircraft is being guided significantly reducing the chance of collisions.

He adds: “The system is fully automated, so it knows what type of aircraft is loaded into the tow dolly, then takes the aircraft to the correct gate and knows where to stop so you don’t overshoot the jet bridge.”

Howie has experience of overshooting, taking a flight recently that overshot the jet bridge slightly. It took 27 minutes before they were pushed back about a metre so the jet bridge would line up.
The system automates several manual processes and optimises taxiway and gate selection. Howie has been working with Oklahoma State University for six years doing development work. They calculated throughput at airports could increase by up to 30% using the ATS system. Several airports are interested for this reason alone.

Howie spent 29 years in the US Air Force then served as the Aerospace and Defense Director for the state of Oklahoma working directly for the Governor. The idea came about at the 2015 Paris Air Show where he met Stan Malicki who had an innovative proposal to move aircraft around airports. Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide LLC was formed in 2016 and Oklahoma State University was put on contract to develop the idea that same year. Two years ago, the project needed working full-time so Howie left his job at the state and filled that role.

Malicki had been working on the idea since the early 2000s after he returned to his native Poland having lived for a long time in West Germany, where he became a successful businessman. A friend of his, a 747 pilot, was complaining about the amount of fuel being burnt on the ground. So Malicki gave the problem to some Sukhov helicopter engineers now working for him in Warsaw, they developed a similar concept using motors above ground and run by belts.

To put the system in place, ATS would run simulation models looking at aircraft traffic flows at the airport and how to optimise everything. Howie says: “If airports have the complete system, it would have tracks running from every gate to taxiways and ramp areas with return loops. They would have a pullcar and tow dolly for every gate plus about 10% extra pullcars. We would calculate the maximum number of aircraft on the ground at any one time and that’s the number of pullcars an airport would need.”

The fuel savings would be considerable. Howie says that around 80% of airline fleets are composed of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s type aircraft, which burn around nine gallons of fuel per minute during taxi. Average taxi times at US airports are between 16 and 27 minutes, and with up to 900,000 movements at large airports, ATS predicts fuel savings could be almost $500m. Also, towing aircraft places less stress on the airframe than using the throttles to move aircraft.

Howie says: “The enticement for airports comes from saving the airlines fuel, the airport becomes a good partner in the community because they are reducing emissions and noise, also increasing efficiency by improving throughput. The airport would recoup the cost by charging a 50% landing fee based on fuel savings of that particular aircraft during taxiing. It would be a 50/50 cost share and savings between the airline saving 50% on fuel during taxi and the airport charging 50% landing fee.”

Interested in reading more? The full article was published in the November/December issue of Ramp Equipment News, click here to read the digital edition.

ATS has released a video showing how the system works, which can be viewed here.

Amazon facility in San Bernardino faces green legal challenge

Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California

Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California

The Attorney General of California has filed a petition demanding the challenge against the air cargo facility used by Amazon at San Bernardino airport is reheard.

The $200m Eastgate Air Cargo Logistics Center received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval in 2019 and Amazon was announced as a tenant in May 2020, opening its facility in April 2021.

In his petition before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Attorney General Rob Bonta says the area near the airport is home to low-income communities and communities of colour who already suffer disproportionately from air pollution-related illnesses.

He says that despite recognising that the project will add at least one tonne of air pollution per day into the already heavily polluted South Coast Air Basin due to dozens of additional flights and thousands of truck trips, and over the objections of the Attorney General and local community, the FAA approved the project.

In a statement, Bonta says: “It doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you have. You can’t cut corners when the health and well-being of our communities is at stake.”

He adds: “As the People’s Attorney, I’m committed to lifting up the voices of communities who live at the intersection of poverty and pollution. The fact is: communities like the one impacted by this Project in San Bernardino are all too often overburdened and under-resourced. These communities, who are already experiencing health harms from pollution, deserve to be protected to the fullest extent of the law, and through our Bureau of Environmental Justice, we’re committed to seeing this fight through.”

The 658,000 square foot air cargo facility has parking positions for 14 aircraft and when construction started in August 2020, it was announced that 1,700 new permanent jobs would be created in the first year of operation, rising to 3,800 when the facility becomes fully operational.

The Attorney General says the panel should reconsider their decision because the burden of proof was not applied properly, the environmental analysis was flawed, and the decision raises questions about government transparency and the ability of the public to protect themselves from environmental harm caused by federal agency action.

LATAM delivers 200 million Covid-19 vaccines

Foto Carguero_LATAM Cargo resizedLATAM Airlines Group has delivered more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines free of charge through its Solidarity Plane programme.

The vaccines were transported within Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru through the initiative, which makes LATAM’s connectivity and capacity available for the benefit of South America.

Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group says: “We have been working to overcome the pandemic for a year and nine months, and it is with great pride and thanks to the efforts of all our collaborators that we exceed 200 million vaccines transported free of charge today. We will remain committed and available to support the well-being of the people of South America.”

In addition to transporting vaccines, more than 1,860 organs and tissues; 3,323 health professionals attended urgent Covid-19 cases; 657 patients with urgent medical needs; 17 stem cells for blood cancer patients; and more than 1,100 tonnes of cargo has also been transported under the programme.

IAG Cargo restarts Heathrow – Rio services

IAG Cargo resizedIAG Cargo has reconnected London Heathrow and Rio de Janeiro following a 20 month break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The service restarted on 1 December, operating four times a week using a British Airways Boeing 787, adding to daily services from Madrid operated by Iberia.

The connection is expected to be a key route for automotive parts into Brazil and for electronic and e-commerce goods to move between Europe and South America.

London – Rio services are important for perishable exports such as papayas and melons, which can be transported using IAG Cargo’s Constant Fresh service designed for perishable goods.

dnata achieves ISAGO accreditation at JFK

dnata USA ISAGO at New York JFK resized

dnata USA has been awarded IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) Accreditation at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport.

The ISAGO audit programme covers areas of organisation and management, load control, passenger and baggage handling, aircraft handling and loading and aircraft ground movement.

Benefits to airlines, ground handlers and authorities include safer ground operations, fewer accidents, elimination of redundant audits, reduced costs, a uniform audit process and harmonised standards, among other benefits.

David Barker, Divisional Senior Vice President for Airport Operations at dnata says: “We consistently invest in training, equipment and industry-leading technologies to deliver world-class safety for our staff, partners and their customers. The achievement of the ISAGO accreditation is a remarkable milestone which demonstrates our relentless commitment to safety and service excellence.”

Menzies partners with Aeromexico at 15 Mexican airports

Menzies - Aeromexico (002) cropped

Menzies Aviation has won a three year contract to service Aeromexico at 15 airports across Mexico.

The contract includes passenger, ramp and cleaning operations at stations such as Los Cabos, Merida, Del Bajio and Oaxaca airports, with Menzies handling 23,000 turns per year.

Menzies has been expanding in Latin America with contracts from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Wingo and Air Transat.

Philipp Joeining, CEO of Menzies Aviation says: “We look forward to working closely with Aeromexico to deliver our world-class ground services across an extensive network of airports and further establishing our operations in Central America.”

Avfuel adds New Braunfels to FBO network

Image 2 to Accompany NEW BRAUNFELS FBO JOINS AVFUEL NETWORK resized

Avfuel has added City Terminal Flight Services at New Braunfels National Airport in Texas to its fixed-base operator (FBO) network.

City Terminal Flight Services provides ground handling services including self- and full-serve avgas and jet fuel, GPU service, lav service, cargo operations, complementary ice and coffee, quick turns, tie-downs, courtesy cars and rental cars at the airport, which is located between San Antonio and Austin.

As an Avfuel-branded location, customers will receive rewards with AVTRIP and competitive prices with Avfuel Contract Fuel, and quicker transactions when using the Avfuel Pro Card with all purchases going on one transaction, avoiding processing fees.

Dr Robert Lee, airport director at New Braunfels says: “With the city’s growing population driving increased demand at the airport, we look forward to partnering with Avfuel to not only increase our business, but also facilitate some upcoming changes to the face of the airport and FBO.”

Cargo Force opens four new facilities

Cargo Force opens in Seattle resized

Cargo Force is opening four new facilities for mail and express services in partnership with United States Postal Service (USPS) after signing a seven-year contract worth $100m.

The new facilities are located in Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Orlando, Florida, covering 173,000 square feet in total and creating 255 new jobs.

The Seattle facility opened on 4 October and the others will open on 1 November.

Jared Azcuy, CEO of Cargo Force says: “The extension of our relationship with USPS will see Cargo Force begin providing mail handling services at four new locations, as well as continuing to provide these services at the existing sites across Jacksonville International Airport, Florida, and Eppley Airfield, Nebraska.”

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