APRIL 2013 GROUND HANDLING INTERNATIONAL
news on ATS’s environmental progress: entering the winter operations for 2012/2013, ATS became the fi rst provider in the US to unveil a new blending process for Kilfrost DFSustain. ATS has found that this new bio-based de-icing fl uid is more environmentally friendly and more cost- effective for commercial carriers. Airport Terminal Services began using
Kilfrost DFSustain Type 1 bio-propanediol for its de-icing operation at St Louis, where it currently de-ices approximately 30% of the airport’s commercial aircraft traffi c. DFSustain is derived from a renewable and sustainable source that produces less greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil-fuel based de-icing fl uids, such as ethylene and propylene glycols. DFSustain is currently in use by major international carriers, such as All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand and LatAm airlines. “ATS wanted to support the airport’s sustainability initiative and be an active green member of the community,” explains Brian Wood, ATS Vice President of Operations & Customer Service. “We have the ability to now blend the de-icing fl uid specifi c to the local weather conditions, mitigating the impact to the environment,
while using a more bio-friendly product.” ATS also installed a new Type 1 Glycol Blending System at Lambert which is manufactured by Liquid Automation Systems. The system allows for ATS crews to customise the de-icing mix on site based on weather conditions. This has the potential to reduce material costs which in turn can reduce the environmental impact associated with aircraft de-icing operations. Lambert has become the fourth ATS location where the new de-icing blending system has been installed: other airports include Edmonton, Calgary and Moncton. “The next generation de-icing fl uid and the new de-icing blending system are perfect examples of the types of initiatives we are encouraging all of our airport partners to undertake as we accelerate our sustainability programme at Lambert,” adds Lambert’s Director, Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge. “We hope and anticipate that this type of operation will grow at Lambert and be adopted at other airports in the US.” Aside from going greener, ATS has had
to recruit. As the unemployment rate in the US has continued to be high, there has been some easing in the ability to
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WORLD ANALYSIS 19
recruit in certain markets, notes Sally. “Of course, there will always be markets that have diffi cult hiring environments. ATS has certainly experienced this in Alberta, Canada, where the energy and oil sectors have produced a plethora of high paying jobs for low skills. This has resulted in a severe tightening of labour availability. “The continued cost pressures brought to bear from the airlines have reduced many service providers to just above or at minimum wage levels. This reminds me of the period before 9/11, when many security screening providers in the US were on a minimum wage. The post 9/11 era prompted the US government to introduce to the TSA much higher wage levels and much higher staffi ng levels. I fear that the squeeze on handlers to lower their rates will result in a refreshing of wages within the US and Canada. Where will all this lead? The swing of government TSA wages and staffi ng in screening in the US post 9/11 may have been too great and I believe that a balance towards the middle is sorely needed. As the service providers continue to expand their presence at airports and begin to become the primary employer, this challenge is now at the forefront.”
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