Cargo Chat: ATSG’s Corrado on sustainability efforts, leveraging data

From carriers and forwarders launching sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) initiatives to carbon offset projects that help reduce emissions , the airfreight industry has been shining a spotlight on the topic of sustainability over the past few years. The digital renaissance driven by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has also played a part in sustainability initiatives, as more air cargo stakeholders have begun to adopt technology not only to improve transparency but optimize operational efficiency and significantly reduce paper waste to lessen their carbon footprint. [caption id="attachment_99079" align="alignright" width="392"] Richard Corrado, President & CEO, ATSG (Photo/ATSG)[/caption] Ohio-based aircraft leasing and airfreight transport company Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) holds sustainability at the forefront of its endeavors, from “recycling” airplanes by converting passenger aircraft into freighters, thereby expanding the life of the aircraft, and installing a filter system for de-icing fluids at its hub at Wilmington Air Park (ILN) to ensure the fluid is clean and filtered before entering nearby creeks. ATSG owns several subsidiaries as well as three airlines: Air Transport International, ABX Air and Omni Air. The leasing company also operates airfreight services for express and e-commerce shipments on behalf of companies like DHL and Amazon. Air Cargo World spoke with Richard Corrado, president and chief executive officer of ATSG, to learn more about how ATSG is bolstering its sustainability efforts by leveraging data and encouraging biofuel initiatives. Air Cargo World : ATSG published its first sustainability report in March to promote transparency and emphasize its commitment to the environment. How does ATSG utilize technology to optimize its sustainability efforts? Rich Corrado : We installed these Teledyne boxes in all our aircraft, and we put a wireless device on them so when they land, they download a bunch of data from systems in the airplane. This includes everything from valves opening and closing and when the plane blocks in, to how the flaps are set on takeoff and landing. All of that really tells you how efficiently the airplane is being flown and so we use that data, and we share that data with our customers because we have large customers that also care about fuel savings. In 2021, we put a brand-new flight planning and following system [on two of our airlines] and that system uses real-time data when it establishes its flight plans. What that allows you to do is again, fly the plane in the most efficient routing rather than using two-hours-old or three-hours-old weather data, as an example. You've got real-time data, and so you might be able to fly fewer miles as you're going. Over the last year we flew 25% more flights in our cargo operations, but our per-mile carbon expenditure went down by 11% during the year. ACW : Are there any other types of technology that ATSG plans to invest in to bolster its sustainability efforts? RC : We'll continue to optimize the next tranche of information we intend to use from those Teledyne systems we were already using, but we're gathering data on more predictable maintenance. So rather than wait till an engine gets less efficient, or if we see the engine starting to decline, or there's some other issue going on with the airplane that's not visible to the pilot and it's not really showing up in any of the warning systems yet, but it's degrading on the airplane, we can know that from these computer systems, and then get more proactive about maintenance. ACW : The sustainability report mentions that all three of ATSG's airlines are certified for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use. To what extent are you using SAF in your airline operations? RC : We've operated some flights with it, but not a lot. When you look at some of the commitments that some airlines make in terms of how much SAF they're going to buy, they'll say that they are going to buy [millions of] gallons of fuel, which isn't a lot of fuel. There’s a lot of advocacy going on right now on SAF fuels because [it’s] difficult to get. One of our public policy advocacy initiatives is with the Kentucky Air Cargo Association, and Cincinnati Airport (CVG) happens to be in Kentucky. So we're doing a lot of lobbying to get sustainable aviation fuel into the CVG airport, and that takes some infrastructure to be able to do that. Right now, the only airport that we can buy SAF fuel at is in California , and we have used it. I'm advocating to be able to use SAF but it's really just not available yet and also an expensive alternative to regular aviation fuel.

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