I remember once upon a time sitting and watching the air cargo come and go from the basement of a small hotel named The Jade East. It was located on a street with the decidedly unromantic name of South Conduit Blvd. at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
      The Jade East was a “short stay” hotel. People would discreetly park out back and slip in and out of the place 24/7.
      My friends Paul and Howard Abrams owned Jade East (and an even smaller place named The Crown over on Rockaway Blvd., across the street from the old Eddie Arcaro’s Steak House, named for a famous jockey who tore up the flats at the nearby Aqueduct Race Track) and took pity on a struggling journalist whose eyes were on the heavens and the cargo area. They rented us some space, and in 1975 our print publication Air Cargo News was born.
      We labored all of our years in the print business, and even after spending 23 years in offices inside The Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia, our thoughts were always first and foremost with JFK air cargo. Even though we branched out to other gateways, JFK was our hometown airport.

Voices Not Soon Forgotten

     Today our memories swim with the people we knew—from Buz Whalen to Henry Kluck to John Grofik to Isaac Nijankin (who we still talk to) to George Paetow to Jerry Trimboli to Rudy Auslander, pictured here with me (we still hear from Rudy). Those days of Idlewild to JFK burn bright and clear.

Air Cargo Today At JFK

     It’s been a long time and maybe too long since we wrote about air cargo activities at JFK. So what better time than now to take a long at the happenings of our old haunt?

Tell Them Willie Boy Needs A Job

      Topping the list of fine people we have known in our 42 years on the beat is William “Willie” Mercado, who served Aer Lingus Cargo for more than 35 years.
      Willie is one of the nicest, smartest and most experienced people in air cargo. He’s currently looking for a new situation in air cargo.
      What makes Willie stand out as an asset is his dedication to the overall good of the industry.
      For example, Willie served several terms as President of The JFK-based Air Cargo Association.
      Along with a handful of other folks, Willie can be thought of as the heart and soul of organized air cargo in New York.
      Willie has given so much to the air cargo community in New York, so we hope someone will smarten up and better their business with this excellent guy.
      For Willie's CV, click here.

Willie at 2011 JFK Air Cargo Expo. Click To View

JFK Cargo Expo March 23

     JFK Airport can no longer say it is the big story in global cargo. At this point, it doesn’t even have an airport hotel that can handle a couple of dozen booths and a robust business audience at some meeting sessions for a trade show event. But the JFK Air Cargo Association has a “never say die” attitude. For several years now, it has moved off-airport to a small community venue called Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, where it holds a wonderful one-day cargo event. Thankfully, that event is once again on for March 23, 2017.
      Russo’s venue is big, wide, and handsome, allowing for more than 40 booths and some tasty meeting sessions inside a space that otherwise serves mostly as a big wedding and banquet hall.

Among The Best In The World

     Make no mistake: despite an abundance of glitzy chandeliers, Russo’s is a heart and soul effort to build business. The JFK Air Cargo Expo is among the best one-day events in the world, thanks to some top notch air cargo people.

JFK Airport Should Be As Good

     Certainly, the airport that serves as gateway to the greatest city in the world falls far short of the effort, quality, and excellence of its air cargo community, but New Yorkers—especially the air cargo lot—are a tough, dedicated bunch that soldier on and do their thing despite an indifferent, ineffective airport operator.

Good Times & Goodfellas

     Russo’s is smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood that became famous to the world when mobster John Gotti and some of his boys reportedly lightened a Lufthansa Cargo shipment of several millions of dollars (see the movie Goodfellas). Russo’s has space galore, valet parking, and an elevator that allows guest speakers (if they are so motivated) to ramp up their arrival by entering through the center of the dance floor.
      The top of our list of places to be in March is the JFK Air Cargo Association’s Air Cargo Expo 2017.

Tip Of The Hat

     Hats off to current Air Cargo Association President Joe Badamo and the entire ACA Board, including John Ryan, Jim Burnett, Phil Jensen, Bob Arens, Peter DeBenigno, Susan Zderko, Laura Cascino, and everyone else at this always interesting and varied air cargo organization.

The Details

     “Our Expo for 2017,” ACA President Joe Badamo said, “is a one-day morning until late afternoon event that features top industry professionals discussing the dynamics and challenges of regulatory changes and modal impact.”
      “We have invited panelists for our single morning session leading up to the luncheon.
      “The exhibition portion of the event features displays of products and services and plenty of networking time for direct, face-to-face interaction and networking with airline, freight forwarder, and other air cargo industry key decision-makers in a dedicated and focused environment. 
      “JFK Air Cargo EXPO Sponsorship opportunities continue to provide organizations with an attractive and cost-effective way of marketing an organization’s goods, services, and brand image to air cargo industry key decision-makers,” Mr. Badamo assures. 
      “The centerpiece of Air Cargo Day will be a grand luncheon, New York City-style, as the theme—JFK EXPO 2017: Cargo Linking & Forward Thinking—gets a thorough once over,” Mr Badamo said.

ACA Monthly Meetings

     ACA monthly meetings are noteworthy and always worthwhile, with interesting speakers and a reasonably priced meal and cocktail hour. There is great networking and lovely, interesting people to converse with.
      For further information on ACA Expo 2017, the ACA monthly meeting, or joining ACA visit www.jfkaircargo.org.
Geoffrey