PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION:
AIR CARGO AMERICAS

Biggest Industry Conference of 2003 Carries On Despite Tough Business Climate

     “I thought I felt the earth move.”
     No, that was not in a moment of passion, but rather during the non-stop, three-day fiesta called Air Cargo America’s (ACA) that was held last week (October 29-31) in Miami, Florida.
     Nobody had to tell anybody that business is not good for many in the industry right now, but out on the floor where roller beds and company pens meet finger sandwiches and fine Chilean wine, that special ambiance that is defined as Latin spirit, engaged more than 5,000 people who attended air cargo’s premier world event of 2003.
     “It’s both a sense of self and place and also community sharing. Sometimes in an air cargo career or any other career, despite the challenges, you simply put yourself in each other’s hands for a few days.” said one ACA attendee.
     “In the end there is always some business, beneficial networking and ground work, essential for when things open up again.”
     There is a big city, little town thing that happens at MIA each time ACA meets. Despite all the high-powered activity that she gets into, Charlotte Gallogly of Miami’s World Trade Center is right there at the door or nearby, to greet and field any and all comers.
     Her presence is reassuring, but also the kind of hands-on management competency that exists nowhere else in these types of events.
     “We spent a lot of money to be here, but it was worth every cent,” said Windsor Knox of Niagara International Airport (IAG), as he handed out a TV set the airport put up for a free raffle.
     “Building an air cargo address and business, is an ongoing effort. ACA jump starts and invigorates that process.”

THESE GUYS THINK BIG AND MAKE
MONEY WITH ANTONOV JUMBO LIFT

Pictured (left to right), Thomas “Irish” Reilly, Polet director marketing & advertising; Alexey Ozerov, vice president The Americas; and Oleg “Big Bear” Kuzmin, sales manager (based in Cyprus).

     The threesome here represent Polet Airlines.
     No, that is not Polish Air- lines, but rather Polet that is also the Russian word for “flight”.
     Polet flies big cargo, the kind that will not fit on most aircraft.
     As compared to say America’s big expensive C-17 military cargo lifter, Polet operates aircraft like the giant Antonov 124, that looks for all the world like it could carry a couple of C17s around, with room left for the entire Bolshoi Ballet.
     We like these Polet guys right away.
     In the first place, they really know their stuff. Ask any ques- tion, they have an answer.
     Also, Polet is a company that was formed just as the Soviet Union tanked.
     But thinking, that gone might not be forever, Polet was incorporated in Cyprus, just in case somebody in Russia changed their mind and decided freedom was again off the table.
     You must want to operate an independent airline to go to all that trouble.
     Why do we like Polet?
     We asked Alexey Ozerov, (USA office in NYC in Empire State Building) about the Antonov 124-100 “Ruslan” versus the C-17.
     The response was immediate and forceful. But best of all, that “us versus them,” nonsense that is so pervasive elsewhere in air cargo, is not part of the program at Polet.
     “We see cooperation that might work. utilizing many different aircraft working in concert with Antonov.
     “For example, we are carrying outsize cargo long haul from USA to Africa, to Chad.
     “From Chad, cargo needs to be redistributed to several remote destinations inside Africa.
     “So our Antonov operations were dove-tailed with U.S. Military C-17s stationed at Chad.
     “Antonov 124 does not operate to some of the African destinations that C-17 gets in and out of easily.
     “On the other hand it would take several C-17s to carry what just one Antonov “Ruslan” can lift from USA to Chad.
     “By using the brilliance of both aircraft, everyone is happy.”
     Only people who look at spreading the risk and reward, talk like Alexey Ozerov.
     So forget about all those third-party characters that have laid hands on Antonov 124s, and are operating charters offering this or that deal.
     If you are in Houston and have a drill, or are in Seattle and need a thrill, call Polet, period.
     They will take flight into your skies, big time.
     And that endorsement was for free, straight from the shoulder, right from the heart.
     It’s great what you can learn at a trade show.
     Worldwide the outsize cargo market, in dollars, totals maybe $350 million throughput yearly.
     Polet has about a third of the pie right now and is looking for a bigger slice.
     Don’t bet against the “Boys from Russia” (by way of Cyprus) not only getting their share, but more.
     It’s about how they do business that will make the difference.

JOHNSON SHEN IS ON A MISSION

     Johnson Shen Is On A Mission. Fill Up 29 Weekly Freighters While Learning To Enjoy Latin Cusine
     If it is tough being the only Chinese guy in the room, China Airlines new cargo manager for Miami District & Latin America, Johnson Shen apparently doesn’t let it get to him.
     Johnson has been a headquarters guy for many years, but his nearly 18 years (Johnson began as an air cargo agent at TPE) have been punctuated with occasional field assignments.
     But we wonder, where does a guy brought up in Chinese culture get food such as dumplings and say that Chinese cabbage called Bok Choy so favored at home while serving in a city with almost no Chinese restaurants or markets?
     Johnson Shen laughs: “Bok Choy?” He says. “If I do my job right, then everybody eats steak!”
     The perspective he brings to his Miami assignment is definitely global.
     “We have 29 weekly flights, offering cargo lift in and out of North America.
     “China Airlines Cargo is a worldwide resource that can move just about anything at a competitive price with complete transparency for the shipper.
     “We think that there are exceptional opportunities here in Miami gateway to serve Latin American shippers.
     “But shippers should know that we want their business and are willing to work harder than anyone else to keep our customers satisfied.
     “China Airlines pioneered all cargo B747 F service from Asia into Miami. We made that promise before anyone else in our region of the world, and have kept our services alive here, protecting and serving our customers ever since.
     “We have an outstanding group of interline agreements to and from Latin America, first-class cargo handling at Building 716D at MIAD, and I am available 24/7 to help facilitate and create any situation.”
     E-Mail- miafoci@yahoo.com.tw. 305-526-6696.

GENTLEMAN BILL SPOHRER STARTED ACA,
NOW WITH DON RICARDO DISCOVERS VITORIA

     Ricardo Gonzalez is no pushover.
     You have this airport called Vitoria, located in the Basque country in the south of Spain, that is an all-cargo facility in a world of a million air cargo facilities, and this Vitoria, on the strength of one man’s determination, lands the big prestigious Air Cargo Forum for 2004.
     Before he began his quest to build the fortunes of an airport, Don Ricardo was a sea captain.
     It’s a pretty fair bet that in the history of air cargo, nobody has personally piloted the amounts of cargo, as has Don Ricardo.
     But plying the waves as a sea-faring trader had other benefits. Don Ricardo also knows about goods, and how and why they move.
     He knows about trade routes, ancient and modern.
     Don Ricardo understands that Vitoria must cut out its specialty, and then take its story to the world.
     So Vitoria has runways and coolers and buildings and loaders and has become a perishables address of some note.
     And Don Ricardo has taken his perishables story worldwide, first securing TIACA 2004, and later via his one-day “Fresh Opportunities” perishables events, the most recent of which was held in Miami this past June 2003.
     Bill Spohrer, who founded Air Cargo Americas and pulled both the ACA show and TIACA up by their bootstraps in the beginning, is intrigued with Don Ricardo’s purpose.
     “Air cargo needs more dreamers and doers like Ricardo Gonzalez. New thinking based on experience, common sense, and a touch of hope with an eye for adventure, is what made air cargo great.
     “We are only at the beginning of the air cargo century.
     “I believe our greatest years are ahead.”