#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE

For years industry action group ULD Care has preached the gospel insisting that unit loading devices (ULDs), or “cans,” get little to no respect.
     When it comes to ULDs, there a few outstanding people—like Bob Rogers from Nordisk known for his drastic and knowledgeable presentations delivered at industry meetings such as the IATA WCS and the TIACA ACF—who have dedicated their professional lives to raising awareness about the ‘unknown entity ULD.’ They have played a pivotal role in spreading the word. Urs Wiesendanger from Air Canada, who also serves as president of the organization ULD Care, is another stand-up stalwart for better understanding of best practices in ULDs.
     One inescapable fact is that while in the past ULD Training requirements were more often than not perfunctorily ‘satisfied’ by subjecting BUP Buildup staff to computer-based training in the English language (no matter if the attending staff was actually capable of speaking at least basic English), that practice is now raising red flags in airline cargo departments—and rightfully so.
     Loading ULDs requires qualified and trained staff, as only dedicated staff aware of the industry requirements will load a ULD not only in compliance with applicable safety and security requirements, but also to insure that the load will arrive in the impeccable state in which it left the production facilities.
     The latter, at least for shippers of pharmaceuticals, is the ultimate goal and the only one that counts.
     While ULD Care efforts have been noteworthy and can take credit for several advances, perhaps their greatest achievement is lifting visibility and concern amongst “the great unwashed,” our endearment for everybody else with an agenda in air cargo.
     Now comes an effort from Helsinki, Finland-based Airport College, a web-based, educational effort that offers an increasingly large catalogue of courses and is the brainchild of ex Finnair Cargo manager, Pertti Mero.

     “ULDs are essential to the air transportation business,” Pertti said.
     “Every year, the total cost of both repair and loss of ULDs is estimated at about $300 million, excluding flight delays and cancelations due to their unavailability.
     “Although ULDs are required to ensure the safe and reliable restraint of cargo, baggage, and mail during a flight, the standards for using them vary widely across the industry. The right ULD must be available in the right place at the right time in the right conditions.
     “Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
     “Just like any other aircraft component, ULDs are regulated to ensure flight safety under all circumstances.
     “These rules are defined by governing bodies like ICAO and IATA and put into national legislation by each Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
     “Operational personnel involved in ULD operations require regular training on topics relevant to their job tasks and responsibilities outlined in the IATA ULD Regulations (ULDR) for standards and procedures covering the handling, restraint, and maintenance of ULDs.
     “Airport College can help airlines, ground handling agents, and logistic service providers meet new ULD handling standards with our accessible, cost- effective ULD Handling e-learning course.

AirportCollege at Haaga-Helia:  (From left)—Pertti Mero, Airport College; Kati Naumanen, Anne Koppatz and Reija Anckar, The Haaga-Helia University; and Teemu Patala, Airport College.

     “Across a widening spectrum of services essential to the airline business, Airport College is an effective, reliable and affordable ready-to-use menu of e-Learning services,” Pertti insists.
     A quick look at AC’s website confirms a dozen and a half online courses from ground handling to pharma, “and the list,” Pertti notes, “is growing!”
     Recently, Airport College partnered with Sharaf Aviation Services Academy in the United Arab Emirates.
     “The idea is to combine e-Learning and traditional classroom training for aviation and logistics,” Pertti said.
     “We are also partnering with The Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Porvoo Campus.
     “Haaga-Helia now offers AirportCollege.com online eLearning courses for their new Aviation Business Bachelor Degree Program,” Pertti said.
     More: www.airportcollege.com. Airport College International Ltd., WTC Helsinki Airport, Vantaa 01530 Finland.
Geoffrey