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Issue 6 2019 - FBJNA


perspectives on an ongoing


basis,” he added. “This includes service features and benefits provided, infrastructure, tracking technologies, enhanced temperature- controlled containers, etc. Our goal


to ensure our


program is nimble enough to accommodate new customer requirements as well as meet the demands of increasing regulatory expectations.” Consequently, AACargo


has have implemented new handling processes, which are designed to enhance both the customer experience as well as ensure the best possible protection for these important shipments. United is working toward


the goal of being CEIV certified in 2019. “Many of our handling partners, particularly in Europe, are already CEIV/GDP validated or in the process of being validated,” pointed out Kate Harbin, TempControl Product Development Manager, United Airlines.


A pharma shipment is loaded on an American Airlines flight at MIA. (MDAD photo.)


“We surveyed United’s


TempControl customers, both originating in and destined for EWR, then equipped the facility with the features and innovations most requested by these customers,” she said. “We are following the same template for all facility renovations and upgrades in TempControl certified handling locations worldwide.” Thirty of United Cargo’s


72 certified TempControl handling locations are in the


United include a wide range of units from CSafe, Envirotainer, va-Q-tainer, Sonoco, SAVSU and SkyCell.” United TempControl is


leasing four different types containers from the SkyCell product line: the 1500C and 1500CRT models, and the 2500C and 2500CRT models. “In terms of the quantity of each individual model, we will be leasing these based on requests from our customers,” she said. SkyCell containers will be


used to transport temperature- sensitive pharma and biologics, as well as vaccines and other high-value health care shipments. Harbin stresses that a major in


change the temperature-


controlled shipping market is the rapid increase in the shipment of live cells used


in biotechnology and


MIA provides a 450,000 sq. ft. refrigerated warehouse for pharma shipments. (MDAD photo)


“United is pointing toward the goal of achieving CEIV certification by the end of the year.” For over 10 years, United


Cargo has been offering its TempControl service, designed for convenient shipping of healthcare and pharmaceutical products that require strict temperature controls and monitoring during transport. Facilities in United Cargo’s TempControl


worldwide


locations are purpose- built with features such as controlled room temperature areas, electrical connectivity for active units and designs that facilitate unit movement to and from the warehouse. Its TempControl Center in Newark has served as a blueprint for other certified locations.


EMEIA region – the most in any of


region worldwide. Harbin


points out that over the past few years, Europe has become the No. 1 region in the export of TempControl shipments. The region has also become a prime location for destination TempControl shipments. To enhance TempControl’s


relevance and value in the


evolving health care


shipping marketplace, United Cargo constantly expands its customers’ options for packaging and transport systems. “Recently, we have focused on adding new packaging and transport systems for the smaller shipments,” she said. “Temperature-controlled shipping units now available for lease through or carriage on


personalized precision medicine. “Combined with the transport of other smaller, high-value biopharmaceutical shipments, this has shiſted some of the industry’s focus from larger shipments of pharmaceuticals in standard- sized ULD containers,” she said. One impact of this change is


that carriers typically transport large pharma shipments between widebody locations in larger airport cities, while cell and gene therapies are prepared for specific patients – oſten in destinations beyond major markets. “Due to the fragility and value of these shipments, and the same meticulously-detailed SOPs we use for pharma must be developed and executed in these regional airport destinations,” Harbin stressed. “That’s a challenge the industry is addressing today.” At United, this effort involves more than the carrier’s


///AIR CARGO PHARMA


TempControl service. “Health Care shippers increasingly use our LifeGuard service for their cell therapy treatments,” she said. “Cell therapy represents the latest scientific breakthrough in the fight against cancer and, because domestic LifeGuard shipments can move on United Express flights


in smaller, integrated


packaging systems, we now transport these treatments to cancer patients in cities and towns all over the United States.”


Of note, recently


United Cargo published the first in its planned series of whitepapers on issues impacting air cargo.


Middle East Carriers


Emirates SkyCargo has been investing in a purpose-built infrastructure for the secure transportation of pharma products. Julian Sutch, Manager


Global Pharma Sales, Emirates SkyCargo, describes the company’s new purpose-built pharma facility in Chicago is located airside at Chicago International Airport (ORD). “The facility is spread over


1,000 square meters with scope for further expansion,” he said. “It has temperature-controlled acceptance, delivery, storage, build-up and break-down zones and has direct ramp access which means that pharma cargo spends very


Emirates SkyCargo ensures that handling of pharmaceutical cargo across its network -- and not just at Dubai, follows a high standard. “This means that it follows EU GDP guidelines for temperature, cargo segregation, pest control, mapping, cleaning and so on,” he said. The Istanbul hub of Turkish


being imported into Chicago. “However, since we


launched our pharma facility, we have witnessed a strong growth in pharma export cargo as well,” he added. “[During the week of June 24,] we exported close to 70 tonnes of pharma cargo.” He attributes this growth to


In 2018, MIA handled 18,318 tons of pharmaceuticals, equal to 16.62 million kilos. (MDAD photo)


Airways received IATA CEIVPharma certification in 2016. The certificate was awarded to both passenger and cargo arms of the airline. In March of this year, Turkish Cargo signed a Master Rental Agreement with DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, the provider of climate-controlled solutions for air cargo based in Frankfurt, Germany. Its Opticooler is regarded as one of the safest containers for transporting temperature- sensitive products such as vaccines and other pharmaceuticals by air. The Opticooler, electric air-


conditioned container, can keep pharmaceuticals exactly within their temperature range, regardless of a tropical summer or arctic winter. The Opticooler has a very high fail-safety and is considered to be reliable product for pharmaceutical transportation. “As one of the leading


airlines of the world, we provide our cargo clients with the best quality services to transport high-value pharma products,” said Fatih Cigal, the Turkish Cargo’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, Given that Turkish Airlines


serves more destinations than any other airline in the world, this means that its Opticoolers are available to many more clients that need reliable temperature-controlled air freight.


little time in transit between the aircraft and the terminal and vice versa.” Sutch reveals that Emirates


SkyCargo chose ORD for this facility because Chicago is one of Emirates SkyCargo’s biggest stations globally and there are large volumes of pharma cargo


creating a robust infrastructure that facilitates quick and safe movement of goods. “In this case,


with our state-of-the-


art facility for pharma cargo, we are helping channel more pharma movement to and from Chicago,” Sutch said. He emphasized that


“With our state-of-the-art facility for pharma cargo, we are helping


channel more pharma movement to and from Chicago.”


– Julian Sutch, Emirates SkyCargo.


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