NEWS\\\


The government will appoint a consultant to review decisions about the future of Manston Airport, Transport Minister John Hayes said on 5 March. Manston was controversially


shut by transport entrepreneur Ann Gloag in May last year, only a few months after acquiring it from previous owner New Zealand-based Infratil for £1 in October 2013. The new owner cited heavy losses and disappointing levels of cargo and passenger traffic, although some commentators believe Gloag’s intention was to develop the airport for other uses all along. Thanet District Council has


subsequently been seeking a deal to secure its future. The Prime Minister also made a commitment to do everything he can to help. At a meeting with leader of Thanet District Council Iris Johnston and local MP Roger Gale, John Hayes said: “I recognise the strong interest in keeping Manston Airport open which is why the government is leaving no stone unturned in the battle to secure its future. I can confirm my department will appoint a well-established consultant to review the process so


far on decisions about the airport’s future. While it is down to Thanet District Council ultimately to agree a deal, the government is doing everything possible to support them in finding a way forward.” The council considered the


suitability of a compulsory purchase order on the site, but was unable to agree a suitable indemnity partner. The Department for Transport will now commission an independent consultant to review the process on its behalf. Earlier, the Baltic Air Charter


Association (BACA) said that Manston Airport should not have been allowed to close. The 220-member association, which represents companies involved in air chartering worldwide, says the Kent gateway could handle five to ten freighters a day, and could have


relieved pressure on


other London airports, which will run out of capacity in about 15 years time it says. It warns that the closure decision ignores the issue of runway capacity in south-east England and ignores Manston’s role as a diversionary airport. Even if the new UK


AMI’s mean


machine promises speedier screening


Airfreight and express wholesaler AMI says it has installed the most powerful cargo X-ray scanner available at its London Heathrow site. The Astrophysics XIS-1818DV is a dual view machine (as required by security regulations from 1 January) with a 180x180cm tunnel aperture. 320kv generator


Its powerful enables


it


to penetrate up to 80mm thick steel – almost double


the capability of most machines currently


in use.


This dramatically reduces the number of shipments requiring secondary screening using techniques such as hand searching and ETD (explosive trace detection). AMI has also installed a similar machine in Manchester Airport facility, but a more compact version. Security report page 40


Government makes a decision on new runways for the south- east within a year of coming into office in May 2015, “there will undoubtedly be 10-15 years of appeals and enquiries and more appeals. It is fair to say that there is little chance of 3,000 metres of new runway being laid and put to use, at whichever airport is chosen, within the next 20-25 years,” it says.


Issue 2 2015 - Freight Business Journal


Govt to probe Manston closure Champ is fighting fit for new US customs rules


CHAMP Cargosystems says its Traxon Global Customs (TGC) service is ready for new US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) requirements for electronic air manifest filing, which come into force on 1 May. From that date, carriers flying to or via the country


will need to file their pre-arrival declarations to the new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) which replaces the Air Automated Manifest System (Air-AMS). Business processes and CBP Air Manifest Interface Requirements (CAMIR) documentation will need to be changed, including more vigorous validation of data submitted by the carriers.


3


Therefore it is critically important that data is correct at the time of filing, says CHAMP. By the end of 2016, ACE will become a single


window - the primary system through which the trade community will report imports and exports and for the government to decide whether to let shipments into the country. Electronic air manifest filing is part of the system. Over 100 carriers and handlers already deploy CHAMP’s TGC to comply with customs requirements in many countries. The company says its users benefit from a lower risk of blocked freight and knowing that they are legally compliant.


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