VOLGA-DNEPR MOVES TURKEY’S PROTOTYPE ATTACK HELICOPTER

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has delivered a prototype of the Turkish T129 attack helicopter onboard an IL-76TD-90VD cargo flight from Ankara to Berlin, Germany, and back to Turkey.

Loading the 13-metre helicopter into the Ilyushin’s cargo hold using hoists required the removal of the T129’s rotor blades, vertical stabilizer, wing and detachable equipment. The rear chassis of the helicopter was also removed and replaced by a special chassis for the transportation that reduced the height of the helicopter from 3.4 metres to 3.17m. All of the components removed to facilitate the loading process were transported to the destination point onboard the same IL-76TD-90VD flight.

The prototype of the T129 helicopter was delivered to Germany in order to be presented at the ILA-2014 Berlin Air Show, which took place at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. The flight was operated on behalf of Air Charter Service (ACS) in Turkey and included the helicopter’s return journey to Ankara.

The T129 attack helicopter was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries in cooperation with AgustaWestland, one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers. At present the T129 modification is in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force but ILA-2014 in Berlin enabled the helicopter prototype to be promoted to the international military market.

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TAPA ISSUES NEW FACILITIES AND TRUCKING SECURITY STANDARDS TO COMBAT CARGO CRIME AND ACHIEVE SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has launched the most comprehensive supply chain security standards for facilities and trucking in its 17-year history to combat increasingly sophisticated thefts by organised criminal gangs across the globe and to prevent substantial losses being incurred by global manufacturers and logistics service providers.

The new 2014 versions of the Association’s Facility Security Requirements (FSR) and Trucking Security Requirements (TSR) are the result of a year-long review process involving TAPA members worldwide. The revised procedures and processes further enhance what are widely regarded as some of the most robust security standards available for the prevention of cargo crime.

TAPA’s security standards are the main reason why major manufacturers of high value products and their logistics service providers across the globe join the Association.  The standards are very often written into contracts as best practice for supply chain resilience.

Cargo crime is no longer petty, opportunist theft carried out by individuals. Today it is co-ordinated by organised international gangs whose attacks often involve violent and armed hijackings of vehicles, facilities and employees as well as fraudulent pick-ups, fake ‘police’ stops, bogus personnel, slashing open trailer curtains, and attacks on moving vehicles.

Paul Linders, who leads TAPA’s global standards committee, said: “Organised gangs of criminals around the world are becoming more sophisticated and daring in their attempts to steal products during the logistics process and that’s why we regularly review and often upgrade the standards. Cargo crime as a whole is increasing and one of the biggest challenges we face is getting businesses and law enforcement agencies to report loss data to help us understand the true scale of the problem and to provide intelligence that helps companies plan their supply chains using the latest market information. At TAPA, our analysis tells us that losses suffered by our members are three times lower than the industry average, although that leaves absolutely no room for complacency.The cost of a single loss can be between 4-11 times its original value, hence the TAPA standards can significantly contribute to measurable supply chain risk management.”

REGIONAL CRIME DATA 

Europe, Middle East & Africa

Cargo crime figures for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for 2013 showed a 66% increase in the number of incidents reported to TAPA’s Incident Information Service (IIS), with an average loss figure for the 1,145 recorded crimes of €235,000. The loss value of the 10 biggest cargo crimes in the region last year was over €55 million.

In the first quarter of 2014, a total of 216 cargo crime incidents were reported in EMEA, including 32 separate thefts of goods each involving losses in excess of €100,000. The average loss figure for the 1 January-31 March period for all recorded incidents was over €210,000. The biggest single crime in Q1 was the theft of €5-6 million of smartphones in Paris close to the city’s Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

Americas

In the first quarter of 2014, TAPA Americas’ Incident Information Service (IIS) recorded a total of 196 thefts in the United States, with 76 thefts in January, 43 in February and 77 in March.

The average loss value per incident during the quarter was $216,208 and there were 47 separate thefts with values over $100,000. The largest single crime was the theft of a truckload of cowboy boots stolen from Carrolton, Texas, which had a declared value of $2,261,495.   

Asia Pacific

TAPA APAC recorded 215 cargo theft incidents throughout Asia in 2013, a slight drop from the 2012 record high of 228. Of the 215 cargo thefts, 49% were hijackings, while 20% were thefts of loads from trailers.

Lee Chan Wai, TAPA APAC IIS Lead, stated: “The average loss value per incident increased from $377,307 in 2012 to $620,954 in 2013. Clothing/Footwear and Metal products accounted for 56% of the recorded IIS incidents in 2013.” Violent truck hijacks accounted for 51% of Asia’s total cargo crime incidents in 2013. 

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About TAPA

TAPA has over 800 members globally, consisting of manufacturers and logistics service providers. In addition to best practice security standards, the Association provides its members with crime intelligence and incident data, networking events and training, and also represents their views through its work with legislators and law enforcement agencies.  

TAPA launched its first FSR standard in 2001 to protect warehouse operations. Recognising the shift toward road-based crime, it responded with the introduction of the new TSR standard in 2005 and, in 2012, increased its coverage of the supply chain with its first TAPA Air Cargo Security Standards. Members review and help to improve each standard every three years and the certification process is conducted by TAPA-authorised independent auditors. There are three levels of certification for the FSR and TSR standards and this, in particular, helps new members to improve their operational security at the entry level before working towards the top grade of certification.  

TAPA members can download the new standards from the password-protected TAPA websites for the EMEA, Americas and APAC regions. 

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WORLDWIDE FLIGHT SERVICES AND TRANSGLOBAL SIGN PARTNERSHIP FOR FULL CARGO, RAMP AND PASSENGER HANDLING SERVICES IN NAIROBI

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has signed a partnership agreement with Transglobal Cargo Centre in Kenya to take over the full management, operation and business development of Transglobal’s ultra modern and fast-growing fresh produce and cargo terminal at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

With effect from June 1, 2014, Transglobal Cargo Centre operates under the Africa Flight Services (AFS) brand, the WFS division responsible for the development of a full range of handling activities across Africa. AFS stations are already operating in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dar es Salaam. WFS is the world’s largest cargo handler and operates at 120 major airports in 20 countries. It handles over 4 million tonnes of cargo per annum on behalf of some 300 airline customers globally. 

The Transglobal Cargo Centre opened in 2007 and is Nairobi’s leading fresh produce and cargo handling facility. In 2013, it handled 52,500 tonnes of cargo on behalf of its airline customers, including Emirates SkyCargo, Lufthansa Cargo and Astral Aviation. Transglobal is a multi-purpose facility, the only one of its kind in Africa, which was designed and built to the highest specifications and requirements of a modern air cargo and freight operation.

Barry Nassberg, Group Chief Operating Officer at WFS, said: “We are delighted to be working with a professional partner in Transglobal, which is in line with our commitment to provide our airline clients with a worldwide network of expertise in handling services. Transglobal will also benefit from joining the WFS network in terms of being part of global customer agreements and having access to our operating and quality standards, and training. This is a far-reaching partnership that includes the development of new business as well as the management and operation of Transglobal’s existing business in Nairobi. The cargo terminal is an outstanding facility and with the capacity to handle over 200,000 tonnes a year, it offers great potential for growth at a time when the Kenyan economy is forecasting an annual GDP increase of 5.7% in 2014 following its healthy 4.7% growth in 2013.”

Historically, cargo volumes in Kenya have grown at around twice the rate of GDP growth. The current air cargo market size in Kenya is approximately 250,000 tonnes per annum, with export traffic accounting for over 75%. 

In addition to providing best-in-class cargo handling at the airport, AFS will also launch ramp and passenger handling in Nairobi by the end of 2014. In support of this, AFS is initially investing in excess of $7 million in new equipment to handle narrow and wide-body passenger aircraft and wide-body freighters.   

Tony Bunn, Commercial Director of Transglobal, added: “We have already created one of the region’s most professional cargo handling stations and in partnership with WFS we will now take this to the next level to support our existing and future customers. There is already considerable interest in AFS because it will offer a full ramp, passenger and cargo service and work to the highest international service standards. This is a new and exciting phase in our development.”

AFS will create over 150 new jobs at the airport this year to support its full service offering for airlines in Nairobi, doubling the size of Transglobal’s workforce at the airport. 

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About WFS

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) was founded in 1983 and is a leading global provider of ground handling and technical services, and the world’s largest cargo handler. Today it is present at 120 major airports in 20 countries on four continents. WFS serves 300 airlines globally, including the handling of four million tonnes of cargo and 50 million airline passengers per annum. The company employs 10,000 staff worldwide and reported revenues for 2013 of €580 million.

Notes to editors

Key highlights of the Transglobal facility in Nairobi include:

i)        Automated Cool Chain Facility: The Cool Chain Facility comprises an area of 2,500 sq. meters and is fitted with two floor ETV (Electric Transfer Vehicle) systems that can handle seven freighter aircraft at one time. The Cool Chain Facility can accommodate 125 pallets and 35 LD3 containers (ULDs) with adequate space for loose cargo and ULD build-up within, fitted with roller beds, ball bearing turntables and weighing platform scales. It has direct airside access. The facility is equipped with a full-size ULD scanner and five loose cargo x-ray scanners positioned at the acceptance points for direct scanning from delivery trucks to eliminate congestion at the acceptance points and to achieve quick turn-round of vehicles. The cool chain has individual cubicles to accommodate commodities with specific temperature requirements e.g. frozen fish, chilled meat products, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

ii)      Exports General Cargo Area: The exports general cargo area of 1,200 sq. meters comprises a cargo storage location as well as a pallet build-up area and storage roller racks for built-up unit load devices. It also accommodates an x-ray machine and platform hoist weighing scales.

iii)    Imports General Cargo Area: The imports cargo area of 3,500 sq. meters is fitted with storage racks, roller beds and turntables to enable stripping of all kinds of ULDs and direct delivery of full units.  

iv)    Office Space: The facility includes a three-storey state-of-the-art office block with 5,150 sq. meters of accommodation for airlines, shippers, clearing and forwarding agents. Standard Bank operates within the facility.

v)      Safety and Security: The entire area inside and outside the Transglobal Cargo Centre complex is under CCTV camera surveillance to ensure total security.  Appropriate and modern fire fighting equipment is also installed.

The facility offers:

-          24-hour CCTV surveillance system

-          Access Control System entry points with biometric checks

-          Two purpose-built strongrooms

-          Secure handling of valuable and vulnerable cargo in a secure caged import area       

-          Screening of all cargo

-          Cargo escorts to and from all flights

vi)                Certifications: Transglobal is ISO certified (ISO 9001: 2008) and was recently awarded Regulated Agents Status in 3rd country (RA3) accreditation in accordance with the EU 654/2013 of 10 July 2013. 

VOLGA-DNEPR OPERATES FIRST SATELLITE FLIGHT FOR SAUDI ARABIA’S ‘KACST’ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has operated its first flight for Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) organisation, moving the SaudiSat-4 satellite made in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to its launch site in Orsk, Russia.

The flight was operated onboard one of the airline’s IL-76TD-90VD freighter aircraft from Riyadh with an intermediate stop in Ulyanovsk, Volga-Dnepr’s ‘hometown’, where the cargo passed through the required customs procedures.  

The delivery was organised on behalf of the KACST organisation, which is responsible for the promotion of science and technology in Saudi Arabia. The organisation made use of Volga-Dnepr Group’s services for the first time to benefit from Volga-Dnepr’s experience of operating more than 3,500 flights over the last 23 years carrying aerospace cargoes.

The satellite was accompanied on its journey to the Yasny Spaceport by Faisal Alaqeel, project manager at KACST, who travelled to Russia onboard the IL-76TD-90VD. Mr. Alaqeel visited Ulyanovsk and Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ office, including its global Flight Operations Control Centre and Training Centre, which houses Russia’s only An-124-100 full flight simulator. Mr. Alaqeel expressed his gratitude to the Volga-Dnepr team and said he hoped there will be opportunities for future cooperation.

The precision navigation satellite system is due to be launched this summer and will conduct scientific experiments. The launch of the satellite is part of a long-term strategic plan up to 2025 adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of space technology research.

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