Users praise AIS for cutting truck congestion at London Heathrow

SPEEDING delivery of information to air freight supply chain personnel is reducing truck congestion at London Heathrow, according to the airport AIS (advanced information system) computer users, or the CCS-UK User Group. 'We can't change the Heathrow infrastructure, so we realised we would have to change the way we worked,' said Mixed Freight Services director Steve O'Keeffe.

'So we focused on capacity management: collating cargo off-airport, and then delivering just in time, ideally between 12 and 24 hours ahead of the flight.

'AIS is enabling us to work more efficiently with the ground handlers; we screen the cargo, submit the e-CSD and manifest to the handler, and then deliver.

'It has dramatically simplified and streamlined our process, giving the handler visibility of pending export cargo which is security screened and ready for delivery,' he said.

Said dnata systems manager Lawrence Cockburn: 'AIS is resulting in, and is reporting significant reductions in dwell time for 75 per cent of the vehicles dnata processes.

'Dnata has led innovation with its gatehouse concept, streamlining the delivery and collection process. AIS is now building on this, giving us the ability to further enhance our gatehouse and counter processes. We no longer have to capture data: we just verify it,' Mr Cockburn said.

Said Air & Cargo Services director Carl Aspital: 'We were dnata's first Blue Lane-approved operator. We have noticed a significant difference, particularly with nighttime deliveries. As we use AIS, dnata has nothing to input, so the payback is faster handling: our driver is given a door immediately on arrival.'

CCS-UK User Group is made up of representatives from the UK Air Cargo community forwarders, ground handling agents and airlines). It also lobbies customs on behalf of the community to accommodate modifications in processes and for IT enhancements.