Airport Terminal Services’ Vancouver team has been named a top finalist in the Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards. The awards recognise distinguished Richmond businesses in ten different categories and received over 200 nominations. ATS was one of the top three finalists in the “New Business of the Year” category.

The award criteria are to honour a new business that is achieving outstanding business
performance and shows promise for continued growth. ATS began ground handling operations in September 2017 and were quickly achieving customer objectives and YVRAA safety metrics. Final construction was completed on new office space including training room, employee facilities, operations control room and management offices in October. This investment was deemed to have shown ATS’ commitment to growth and employee engagement at Vancouver International airport.

“The YVR team continues to make us proud,” says Sally Leible, ATS President and CEO. “To see our YVR team, led by Managing Director, Parv Bal, grow and develop a young operation and consistently meet KPIs while showing continuous improvement in employee morale and retention is an impeccable achievement. We have the perfect trifecta in YVR with a collaborative customer in WestJet and supportive team with YVR airport. We are thrilled the Richmond Chamber of Commerce was able to recognise and reward this phenomenal accomplishment.”

On November 27, 2018, the TSA opened the application period for companies to submit their application to become a CCSF-K9 provider. GK9PG received notification on December 7 that its Operational Implementation Plan met all of the programme requirements. With this Letter of Approval, the company’s CCSF-K9 Teams that have successfully completed the required Third-Party Certification will begin operations for GK9PG’s established clients immediately.

Based on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 100% of everything that travels on a passenger aircraft inside the US must be screened. This is not a new requirement; however, more recent changes to the International Civil Aviation Organisation security standards removes the distinction between passenger and cargo operations. This shifts the screening requirement to all cargo transported via commercial air transportation. As a result, Homeland Security and the TSA have established the Third-Party Canine Screening or 3PK9 program to create and monitor Certified Cargo Screening Facility – K9 (CCSF-K9). Under this programme, private sector canine companies will be able to provide TSA-certified cargo screening canine teams to assist in meeting these new requirements.

3PK9 Teams are third party or private sector explosive detection canine teams. Each team comprises one canine handler and one assigned canine that must pass an annual TSA certification. 3PK9 Teams conduct cargo screening under 49 CFR part 1549. 3PK9 teams perform cargo screening operations as CCSF-K9s once they have been certified by TSA approved certifying organisation.

Electric tug manufacturer LEKTRO has passed another milestone, delivering its 5,400th aircraft tug. The latest model went to Airbus at its manufacturing facility in Hamburg and the sale enhances further LEKTRO’s presence in the battery-powered GSE marketplace.

The sale was brokered by LEKTRO’s authorised dealer for Germany and Austria, Bartosch Airport Supply Services.

“It is an honour to provide ground handling solutions to Airbus in Hamburg,” commented Leo Bartosch, President of Bartosch Airport Supply Services. “We look forward to supporting Airbus whenever the need arises.”

The tug, a LEKTRO model AP8950SDB-AL-200, is the American company’s second largest pushback offering, and is capable of handling all single aisle Airbus aircraft up to and including the A321 Neo. The tug also features a new cabin design.