KAAMCO Cargo Committee meets
Highlights: USPS opens Bldg. 197 year round; cargo congestion
Meeting called to order by
chair Phil Jensen with board
members Joe Clabby, Pete
Debenigno, and Suki Kim
with JFK Airport Deputy GM
Tony Vero in attendance as a
guest to discuss JFK air cargo
news.
The issues discussed
included USPS operations and
plans for the year, Foreign
object debris,
cargo congestion, opioids,
third party canines, SIDA
offi ce move, illegal dog
imports, lithium batteries
rules, 5K Rotary run, AIR
Cargo Assn. Expo.
The topic of the USPS
and logistics at the airport
has been discussed at every
meeting. At this meeting Post
Offi ce Plant Manager Charles
Conte made an announcement
that was warmly received by
the members: Building 197
would stay open all year not
just for the holidays through
early 2020. There was a sigh
of relief and overwhelming
approval of the good news
by the ground handlers that
do the heavy lifting of the
booming -e-commerce and
express mail parcels at the
airport. For years there has
been a need for a second
building to help with the
facilitation of mail handling.
Part of the discussion revolved
around the equipment that is
often left around the building
and ways to alleviate this were
discussed since a major player
in the business no longer
handles mail. Solutions were
not achieved but it was agreed
to be resolved.
Debenigno briefl y reported
that the truck cargo congestion
at building 151 has improved
after many conversations and
credited WFS saying “ Good
stuff happens, when we work
together.” He also was sorry to
report that a major trucking
company, NEMF went out of
business.
Phil Jensen, Mike
Vernale and Kenix Wang
of WFS commented and
have been responsible for
improvements. Mozart Ramos
Junior of WFS discussed the
introduction of the use of
digital pads, structured wait
lines, improved security and
better communication with
drivers to lessen wait times.
But it was pointed out that if
international freighters are
late in arriving then it throws
18 AIRPORT VOICE, MARCH 2019
WFS PHIL JENSEN CHAIRS KAMCO CARGO MEETING WITH JOE CLABBY BOARD MEMBER WELCOMING MEMBERS. PHOTO BY JEFF
YAPALATER
the entire line of effi ciency
away. Things will improve
substantially they said after
the new Aeroterm building
is constructed with more
tech features and space for
handling trucks.
In related matter, Jensen
announced that the committee
would like more participation
with freight forwarders. Long
time revered representative
of this group, Joel Ditkowsky
has had personal matters so
new representation is very
much needed since they are
the “travel agents of cargo.”
Bill Bowe of CBP reported
that details on 321 shipments
“are off the charts’ and that
everyone should be aware. He
also mentioned that there are
diligent efforts and success
in intercepting opioids and
ecstasy mail shipments at
both JFK and EWR.
A TSA representative
commented on the usefulness
of the Kaamco Security
meetings, chaired by Ajay
Patel, as a good way to share
screening information. He also
did not have much information
on the implementation of third
party canine deployment
(see article in this issue on
canines).
Mike Bednarz, Port
Manager Air Cargo Business
Development and Air Cargo
Association board member
reported that in 2018, 1.43
million short tons of cargo
went through JFK Airport,
an increase of 2.6 % over 2017
as well as 93,000 tons of mail.
Bednarz also invited members
to the ACA Expo on March
28th.
Beau Baer of Jet Way
announced that the new SSA
for the FBI is Mike Regan.
The security of JFK
reported that the SIDA offi ce
at Bldg. 14 will be closed
from end of week March 4
and moving to new space at
building 141 by the ballfi eld,
on March 11 and operate out
of there for 9 months. Security
also requested that all
stakeholders comply with the
5 foot clear zone between any
materials and the perimeter
fencing along the airport.
The USDA was represented
by Dr. LoPinto who spoke
about the continuing problem
of illegal smuggling of desired
dog breeds from overseas
to the U.S. LoPinto pointed
out the dangers to the dogs
who are sometimes killed
by poor shipping methods,
illnesses they may bring to
this country, and the need for
airlines to monitor animal
transport. Kiera Mejia of The
Ark amplifi ed this message
by saying that criminals are
bypassing cargo and Customs
by hiring people to transport
dogs as personal pets. Many
are shipped with passengers
on the weekend knowing that
this is an easier time to sneak
animals into the country.
Dave Hopkins of the
NYCEDC reported that an
RFP for advertised property
on Rockaway has produced a
buyer and that the city is in
negotiations to fi nalize the
deal.
Kevin McAdams of the
FAA reported a change in
the way lithium batteries
can be brought aboard
aircraft. Lithium batteries
especially metal lithium have
caused explosions and are
considered dangerous. ( see
accompanying article in this
issue for details).
Pastor Dabee of the Christ
for World Chapel reminded all
of the Luncheon at Russo’s and
the nominations that remain
open for high school students
and employees of the airport
workforce for award of Susan
Baer Scholarship to be given
at the luncheon.
Clabby announced the
JFK Chamber of Commerce
March 28 luncheon featuring
BOOM Supersonic aircraft
presentation to be held at
Russo’s.
Last item mentioned was
the JFK Rotary 5k Runway
Run top be held Sunday
April 14 at JFK. Phil Jensen
guffawed saying it would be
the 5k Runway “Walk” for
him. So, whatever your speed
everyone was invited to this
unique event which had over
1700 participants last year.
Tony Vero thanked the
committee for inviting
him and assured that he is
interested in working with
the Kaamco committee in a
collaborative manner.. He also
said tht he has been warmly
received by the airport
communituy and that he looks
forward to solutions for the
challenges ahead..
Photo by Jeff Yapalater
Frank Conte, Plant Manager, JFK
USPS
Photo by Jeff Yapalater
WFS ground handling truck working
mail at building 197.