For some years Envirotainers have been the standard in specialist containers for the shipment of perishables. First with its dry ice and battery models, and since 1995 with its RKNe1, a condensor-driven active heating and cooling container, the Swedish company has dominated the market. But now new entrants are coming into the market offering rival products and businessmodels. Examples include Unicooler, which is backed by Lufthansa; Skycooler which uses containers made by Van Riemsdijk (see … [Read more...] about New products rival Envirotainer
air freighter
Champ’s ULD Manager exploits ULD’s value as an asset
There are over a million of them in use, with a collective value of over US$ 1 billion, and every year airlines spend over US$ 200 million maintaining, repairing and replacing them. It’s the Unit Load Device, and despite its familiarity and ubiquity it’s actually a very valuable asset that needs to be managed. Managing global ULD inventories is a major challenge for airlines, but the benefits of effective managementare many and varied: • Stock levels at stations are controlled … [Read more...] about Champ’s ULD Manager exploits ULD’s value as an asset
Lightweight containers – The next step
By Bob Rogers, President, Nordisk Aviation Products Asia Far too many years ago when I first started working in the ULD industry, with the 747’s, DC10’s and L1011’s just starting to take their place in the fleets of Asia Pacific’s airlines, a typical LD3 container weighed around 135 kg. Before long the airlines were facing yet another oil crisis (maybe US$20 a barrel oil oh happy days) and tech services departments started to pursue the weightreduction chase. The … [Read more...] about Lightweight containers – The next step
OLD MICE
For those of you who can’t get enough of flying around the globe for business, here is a timely reminder to take it easy. A US study has shown that jet-lagged mice die younger. Tests on more than 100 mice at the University of Virginia showed that old mice forced to live on a confusing schedule of light and darkness, simulating rotating shifts or international travel, died sooner than those on gentler schedules. One group had its light/dark cycle shifted forward by six hours. A second … [Read more...] about OLD MICE
NO MORE PUNISHMENT
Although no one was fatally hurt in the hurried El Al departure, the story reminds us of a recent announcement by Japan Airlines that it will exempt pilots and maintenance workers from punishment even if their errors result in a fatal accident. Such a policy has been the norm among US and European airlines, but no organisation involved in the public transport system in Japan has so far adopted it. The Japanese airline said it puts priority on investigating the cause of a serious accident … [Read more...] about NO MORE PUNISHMENT
EARLY RETIREMENT
We hear that French investigators have started an inquiry after an El Al Boeing 747- 400 suffered severe engine damage at Paris after it taxied over its push-back tractor. The Israeli-operated aircraft was preparing to depart Paris Charles de Gaulle for Tel Aviv on 13 April when the incident occurred. It crushed the tow tractor under the number three engine, heavily damaging both. A spokesman for Aéroports de Paris said the push-back tractor had been disconnected from the aircraft … [Read more...] about EARLY RETIREMENT