FT061319

#INTHEAIREVERYWHERE

Vol. 18 No. 42	Thursday June 13, 2019

     Team EMO Trans is pictured at the Transport Logistic Air Cargo Europe exhibition last week in Munich, Germany.
     Jo Frigger, Chairman of EMO Trans reports:
     “EMO Trans is well prepared to master present and future economic turbulences by maintaining a high degree of service levels for our customers through our dedicated teams supported by technological improvements.
     “Restrictions and other disputes, have forced some of our customers to completely restructure sourcing, manufacturing, and global supply chain strategies.
     “The uncertain geopolitical climate in which we find ourselves has created a rather volatile global economy.
     “Fortunately, EMO Trans has established a worldwide network that is both capable and extremely flexible, enabling us to quickly fulfill the needs of even the most demanding situations that our customers may face.
     “Our IT solutions and technological investments are moving forward in the right direction.
     “The EMO IT Portal we are building will enable our customers to have end-to-end visibility, as well as expand our capabilities of providing customized data reports using the information that we generate simply by doing business.
     “We have invested substantially in this project and will continue to do so.
     “It has been built in-house and has a truly dedicated team supporting it.
     “The discipline of our operations and sales personnel will assure ongoing success,” Mr. Frigger concluded.
Geoffrey/Sabiha

Ingo Zimmer Ingo Zimmer, CEO of fast growing ATC, a big winner in the global GSSA game serving 75 airlines, passed up attending the “gala” Air Cargo Europe awards dinner Wednesday March 5 in Munich.
     Ingo, as dynamic as he is tall at 6 foot 5, had a better idea, delivering a simple thank you to his customers in an extraordinary once in a lifetime setting.
     The top executive of ATC and fervent supporter of all things air cargo, including attendance at industry trade shows the world over, apparently had enough of the push and pull, overly expensive, paper thin experience of air cargo award dinners.
     So, Ingo said thanks to many of his ATC partners at an intimate dinner party at arguably the best restaurant in Germany, a place called Tantris.
     Tantris means 'the search for perfection' and our dinner was not far off it.
     The interior design is full-bodied '70s – all postbox reds, truffle blacks and illuminated yellows.
     Tantris is stunningly beautiful and the food is great.
     The fact that this restaurant is located about seven kilometers from Messe München and you can ride a bus to get there makes a visit almost a no-brainer.
     Describing Tantris, Guide Michelin awarding the restaurant two stars raved:
     "Tantris is simply an institution!
     “Of course, this is mainly due to the product-oriented kitchen of Hans Haas, but also a little bit of the legendary 70s flair! You cook classic French, use only the best ingredients and do without unnecessary Chichi.”

The Feeling Flows At ATC

A feeling of sublime relaxation and pleasure descended upon the gathering as a couple dozen people sipped champagne and spoke quietly to each other in the elegant garden setting.
No high-powered voices or musical crescendo; no suspense, no uncertainty, only winners last week on Wednesday evening with ATC at Tantris, as an evening unfolded of gloriously sumptuous surroundings, perfectly prepared food and impeccable service.

     Perhaps an event of a lifetime for some, but without question exceptional to everyone in attendance by any measure.
     “I just thought that we should say thank you to our partners in a way that expressed in real terms who we are and what these companies represent to us,” Ingo said.
     “Tantris is among the best restaurants in the world and practically at our fingertips here in Munich,” Ingo smiled.
     “The opportunity to have such an experience is both beyond the norm but also says thank you without qualification,” Ingo said.
     “ATC thinks that as a GSSA, our partners award us every day and in growing numbers by trusting us with their business.
     “They are the ultimate judges of who we are and what we mean to the air cargo industry.
     “Also, by bringing together leaders of the industry in a celebration of time and place with no speeches or agenda other than a half dozen immaculately prepared and served courses for dinner, we shared a unique uplifting life experience.
     “Here we supped and enjoyed a rare opportunity to know each other better.
     “The conversation was bright and lively,” Ingo declared.
     “We have been thinking quite a bit about what is the ultimate reward, or award if you wish, that ATC might receive in air cargo.
     “Looking into the faces of our service partners as friends last Wednesday evening is a moveable feast that energizes us, as we move ahead with our constant goal of delivering a job well done,” Ingo Zimmer said.
Geoffrey

Guenter Rohrmann, Buz Whalen and Pat Phelan

     Although he was action central in American, German and International air cargo for more than 50 years, and is now retired, a belated special Happy 80th Birthday salute to the great Guenter Rohrmann, who was born on April 15,1939.
     The essential thing you need to know about GR is that he was an industry builder.
     He put his time and money into creating a better air cargo business.
     He worked tirelessly for Cargo Network Services (CNS) and was one of the two or three people most responsible for bringing TIACA back and to Luxembourg for that first Air Cargo Forum (ACF) in 1992.
     In addition to all of that, previously, after he joined AEI Wings & Wheels in America in 1982, he built a powerful giant company practically from the ground up.
     His career began in Frankfurt, Germany as an apprentice with a local freight forwarding company.
     He joined AEI in Germany in 1961 as Country Manager, Germany and VP, Europe/Middle East.
     In USA, in 1982 as mentioned, Mr. Rohrmann at AEI served as VP and General Manager for the company’s North American Operations. In December 1984, he became executive VP International. Within a year, he was AEI’s president and chief operating officer and in 1989, President and CEO.
     Later as the succession game heated up and takeovers were the order of the day, AEI moved into Danzas and Deutsche Post and finally into DHL.
     Through it all, GR was a steady hand at the helm but always with an eye out for the good of the air cargo industry, at both CNS and TIACA.
     We can talk all day and heap on the praise but I experienced GR first hand many times, up close and personal.
Tony Calabrese, Giovanni Bisignani and Guenter Rohrmann

Tony Calabrese, Giovanni Bisignani and Guenter Rohrmann

     During our early years, GR was always a tell it like it is, no fooling around, while on the job dedicated individual who was incidentally smart as a whip.
     Looking at GR here with CNS President and founder Tony Calabrese and IATA’s Director General Giovanni Bisignani at a Wings Club luncheon, I recall an encounter with GR after having written some fairly blistering stories about CNS at the time.
     Of course, GR would have none of that.
     He looked at me after I took this picture, and brought us in close to the organization from that point forward with no room for misunderstanding.
     GR was very persuasive, insistent and downright irresistible.
     Later when Dick Malkin turned 100 years of age Guenter called me and insisted I record the story of Richard Malkin, so I did.
Guenter Rohrmann and Richard Malkin

     From that time on until Dick passed at 105, because of GR, I had the opportunity twice in a lifetime (we had worked with Dick in 1989-90 before he joined CNS Focus as that publication’s editor) to be closely allied with Richard Malkin, the man that invented air cargo journalism.
     The picture here of GR and Dick is typical of the care and affection GR would show an old friend.
     Every birthday until Richard left us, GR would show up for lunch and escort Mr. Malkin to his favorite neighborhood diner for a celebratory meal.
     That was a long slog to Queens, New York near JFK International Airport for someone who lived, and still does, in central Connecticut.
     But caring for others and putting the welfare of friends and colleagues and the air cargo industry first, last and always, is how Guenter Rohrmann has rolled.
     So understanding that all good things must pass, we still wish that we could do it all over again with you, dear Guenter.
     We wish you well and earnestly hope for your long and happy life.
     Unlikely we will ever see your kind again, so thanks for the ride.
Geoffrey

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Awards Leave Some At A Loss

Most promising start up of 1983, innovative marketing technique award winner 1996, lifetime achievement award 2011, last train home 2019 . . .

     Air Cargo Europe bestowed another blizzard of air cargo awards at its “Gala Dinner in Munich on Wednesday.
      Trade shows, industry organizations, and especially publications are handing out awards left and right.
      There are awards for everything, from company of the year, to person of the year, to most influential, to lifetime service.
      Forgive our skepticism, but something about this rings a bit hollow when air cargo folks sit down to a $75 or $150-a-plate trade show dinner to pat themselves on the back.
      The idea of recognizing and awarding exemplary effort is as old as organized business itself.
      But right now award giving seems a bit over the top, if not inappropriate.
      First of all, there are too many awards.
      Awards, truth be told, are money makers, especially for the publications who in some cases passively encourage candidates to buy award sponsor company ads and full-blown advertising programs pleading with readers to “vote for us.”
      Forgetting everything else, isn’t there something a tad less than believable going on here?
      Advertising programs and event and table sponsorships sold as part of an awards package are a set up, period.
      The guys on the street here in New York City would call it a kickback, pure and simple.
      Hard working companies and people in air cargo don’t need that kind of grief at what should be a moment of enlightenment and reflection for a job well done.
      The prerequisites for the vast majority of awards are totally nebulous. For example:
      “Best Cargo Carrier of Europe,” “Outstanding Cargo Carrier of Asia/Pacific Indian Subcontinent,”and so on.
      By this time of year, a worldwide inflation of accolades has popped up like white asparagus in Germany.
      What has developed is a sort of awards overkill. In our humble view, it has reduced the credibility and devalued those few awards with a basis in thorough and scientific approach.
      So… is there a fix here?
      A highly placed air cargo executive who asked to go unnamed thinks more accountability is needed in the business of recognizing true winners:
      Another thought is that maybe the focus should change. Maybe air cargo should skip the awards altogether in favor of pooling the same resources to create a yearly logistics scholarship at a university.
      The point should be made that as a great, honorable, and flexible industry, our awards process at almost every gathering should not resemble a dead heat on a carousel.
      In the meantime, there is no doubt the air cargo awards trend will continue.
      Can we at least say it’s about time to make air cargo honors more rewarding by making them more believable?
      Your move…
Geoffrey

Trees Gave It Up For Daily Blah

     Last week we picked up a copy of the “Official Air Cargo Europe” daily publication.
     Printed on extra thick glossy stock, the issue felt and looked wonderful.
     But then we got to thinking: how can the air cargo industry, which is attempting to project an image of sustainability, allow itself to be presented to the professionals (at ACE) in a series of printed issues that have the look and feel of having been printed on what remains of the Black Forest?
     Yes, FlyingTypers’ parent company quit print more than 15 years ago, so perhaps we are a bit sensitive on the subject, but we think it is past time that air cargo put its money where its mouth is and insist that wasteful usage of paper to print industry news is not consistent with the message that everyone in this industry—from IATA to FIATA, to the logistics industry—is trying to get across.
     We must accelerate our effort to get as much paper out of the air cargo business as possible, because still today in 2019, despite all our efforts, our industry continues to sink beneath an avalanche of documents every day.
     Besides, who in 2019 doesn’t get most of their editorial information including what you are reading right now, dear reader, from their PDAs?
Geoffrey

If You Missed Any Of The Previous 3 Issues Of FlyingTypers Access complete issue by clicking on issue icon or Access specific articles by clicking on article title
Vol. 18 No. 39 Why ATC Matters At Air Cargo Europe Chuckles for June 3, 2019 A Paris Life United Spargel Dinner In Munich	Vol. 18 No. 40 Atlanta Turns A Paige Chuckles for June 5, 2019 Shop The World I Want To Get Off	Vol. 18 No. 41 Achim Is Back Chuckles for June 10, 2019 Virgin Cargo IT Vision Is 2020 A League Of Their Own Is The Sky Falling In On Air Cargo Qatar Makes Music In Munich Berlin Airlift In Germany Today

Publisher-Geoffrey Arend • Managing Editor-Flossie Arend • Editor Emeritus-Richard Malkin
Film Editor-Ralph Arend • Special Assignments-Sabiha Arend, Emily Arend

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