Hindawi

Journal of Advanced Transportation

Volume 2020, Article ID 1232846, 13 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1232846

Research Article
Sustainability of the Air Cargo Handling Process in the Context of
Safety and Environmental Aspects

Miroslav Drljača ,1,2 Igor Štimac,1,3 Andrija VidoviĆ  ,3 and Saša Petar4
1
Zagreb Airport Ltd., Velika Gorica, Croatia
2
Department of Sustainable Mobility and Logistic, University North, Koprivnica, Croatia
3
Department of Air Transport, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
4
University North, Koprivnica, Croatia

Correspondence should be addressed to Miroslav Drljača; [email protected]

Received 12 August 2019; Revised 3 November 2019; Accepted 26 November 2019; Published 20 January 2020

Guest Editor: Hyangsook Lee

Copyright © 2020 Miroslav Drljača et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.

In addition to passenger traffic, air cargo business is an important business for a global air transport industry. This means that Air
Cargo Handling Process (ACHP) is important for any airport or cargo handling agent who provides cargo handling services. To
qualitatively manage the ACHP, certain prerequisites must be met, such as competent cargo staff, procedures, cargo information
system, infrastructure with enough capacity, and process management. The objective of research presented in this paper is ACHP
and its complex structure but in the context of safety and sustainability. Using of several scientific methods of cognition, the authors
research the structure of ACHP and safety, and ecological aspects of the process, too. The result of this research is the safety and
environmental aspects of the process which are of significant importance for process functionality as well as for the quality level of
service that meets customer requirements and to the sustainability of process. Results show that there is a significant impact of the
environmental and safety aspects specific to particular activities in ACHP and that they affect the reliability and functionality of the
whole process, its profitability, and competitiveness. This points to the need for ACHP to be viewed in context and to understand
ACHP sustainability matters and sustainability components.

1. Introduction worldwide in 2018. By weight, it is less than 1% of world trade,

however, it is more than 35% of world trade value, accounting
The ACHP, which as a result has a cargo handling service at for about US $ 6.8 trillion annually, or US $ 18.6 billion in
airports, can be provided by the airports themselves (usually value of goods every day. Air freight (cargo) transport accounts
at airports with traffic up to 50,000 t annually), or by special- for an average of 9% of total airline revenue, double that of
ized companies, i.e. Cargo Handling Agents, or by Airlines as first-class passenger revenue. Directly and indirectly, the air
self-handling. According to the Ordinance on the Provision cargo business provides around 32 million jobs worldwide. To
of Ground Handling Services (Directive 96/67/EC) [1], when support this critical business, IATA is committed to deliver
the cargo traffic of an airport reaches 50,000 t or more annu- enhanced value for the industry by driving a safe, secure, prof-
ally, the market for these services should be liberalized, in itable, and sustainable air cargo supply chain [3].
order to enable another service provider, that, under the terms Demands from consumers and the industry for faster
of the Regulations, it may provide cargo handling services as transports of goods have fuelled the rapid growth in air cargo
part of a competition. transportation during the previous decades. Hailey and
Ashford et al. [2] said that on closer examination of the Jonasson [4] concluded that it has been shown to be an impor-
development of air cargo indicates a number of factors are tant means in the movement of goods in support of supply
involved, such as gross domestic product, cost and other chains on a global scale.
factors. When it comes to air cargo transport, competition among
According to the International Air Transport Association airports is very strong, especially in relation to intercontinental
(IATA), 52 million tonnes of cargo have been carried (long-haul) traffic. Airports winning in this market
2 Journal of Advanced Transportation

competition are the ones having: competent staff, appropriate Rules and controls
cargo infrastructure, developed route network, good traffic
links of the airport with the railway, technology implementing
latest developments, quality based on ISO standards, IATA
projects such as Cargo 2000 (C2K) management system, Customer Fulfilment
Air Cargo Handling Process
e-freight technology, iQ, and the like. Cargo iQ is an IATA requirements A-0 requirements
interest group with the mission of creating and implementing
quality standards for the worldwide air cargo industry. For
that reason, every handling agent, or air cargo handling service
provider, makes efforts to improve the quality of the process Mechanisms
in all elements, in order to be competitive in the market.
Chung Hu et al. [5] concluded that most research that has Figure 1: Context diagram of Air Cargo Handling Process.
studied the quality of service provided by the air cargo indus-
try has concentrated on forwarders or air cargo logistics
providers. The problem being researched is the possible impact of
Hlavaty and Kraus [6] described that transportation of the environmental and safety aspects characteristic of particu-
cargo is different from transportation of passengers, especially lar activities in ACHP on the functionality of the whole pro-
the procedures of handling are different. Actions which have cess, its profitability and competitiveness.
to be performed during technical handling of passengers’ air- The purpose of this research is to identify the environ-
craft are, inter alia, boarding of passengers, loading and mental and safety aspects of ACHP so that process man-
unloading of baggage, loading and unloading of cargo, cater- agers at the operational level can identify significant
ing supplies, and cleaning of aircraft. On the other hand, activ- aspects and prevent their possible negative impact on the
ities performed during business handling of cargo aircrafts sustainability of ACHP. It also wants to highlight the need
can include only crew boarding and loading and unloading of for ACHP to be viewed in context, and to understand con-
cargo. text is necessary to understand ACHP sustainability mat-
Due to the high degree of regulation of air traffic, it is ters and sustainability components. To demonstrate and
subjected to a large number of international, and national clarify that to manage ACHP in a way that ensures long-
standards, directives, laws, and regulations. Accordingly, and term sustainability, it is necessary to design a model of the
further to the main postulate of air transport, “safety first” functionality of the management system within which
should be the same in the cargo transport segment in accord- ACHP takes place.
ance with documents such as: In this research, it is a hypothesis that the safety and sus-
tainability of ACHP cannot be achieved without a thorough
(1) ICAO—Annex 16—Environmental Protection; Annex consideration of the sustainability issues and sustainability
17—Security; Annex 18—The Safe Transportation of components of ACHP, within the framework of a developed
Dangerous Goods by Air; Annex 19—Safety manage- model of the functionality of the management system within
ment [7], which ACHP takes place, and that the model should cover the
(2) EASA—Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 and technological aspect of ACHP as well as the management
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) aspect.
2015/1018,
(3) IATA—Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), Live
Animals Regulations (LAR), etc. 3. Background
(4) National regulation. Business processes can be divided into four types: (1) core
business processes, (2) support or logistic processes, (3) man-
What is new in this paper that is conclusion that the safety and agement processes, and (4) measurement, analysis, and
sustainable ACHP can be established if a system for managing improvement processes. ACHP belongs to core business pro-
the impacts of individual safety aspects and environmental cesses regardless if the airport itself conducts it or it is man-
aspects is established and if it manages each element of safety, aged by a specialized cargo handling organization in the
environment, and quality components. In these circumstances, liberalized market conditions.
it is possible to achieve the synergy of economic, environmen-
tal, and social factors necessary to ensure functionality as well 3.1. Process Definition. The word process originates from
as the safety and sustainability of ACHP for a long period. the Latin word processus, meaning… flow, the way in which
something becomes or is, development, procedure… [8].
Process is set of interrelated or interacting activities that use
2. Research Subject, Research Problem, inputs to deliver an intended result [9]. Further on, process
and Purpose means transforming or reshaping input values to output ones,
however, not in any way but within the framework of set rules
The subject of research in this paper is ACHP and its complex and controls and with application of defined mechanisms, or
structure in the context of safety and sustainability. resources, as shown in Figure 1.
Journal of Advanced Transportation 3

Requirement refused

Customer
Requirements
requirem.
analysis
A-0.1 Resourses and
organiz. planning
A-0.2 Preparation cargo
and documents
A-0.3

Cargo handling
process Fulfillment
A-0.4 requirements
Final activities
A-0.5

Figure 2: Diagram of Air Cargo Handling Process decomposition.

Unloading cargo
Aircraft of aircraft
arrival Transportation to
A-0.4.1.1
cargo warehouse Arrival in
A-0.4.1.2. warehouse

Figure 3: Further decomposition—air cargo handling subprocess (arrivals)—airside.

The process is subjected to some particular rules. Process (2) Physical and documentary handling (receipt and dis-
input is always a requirement of customer/user, regardless in patch) activities run simultaneously;
which form it is presented (contract, specification, order, etc.). (3) Airside and landside activities run simultaneously;
Process output is a service in case of ACHP with characteris- (4) This process takes place at the same time as two other
tics (quality) that fulfil the customer/user requirements very specific processes, namely the handling of aircraft
defined at the process input. Rules and controls that must be and passengers and baggage handling process, too.
observed when transforming inputs into outputs can be: inter-
national and national standards, laws and other regulations,
agreements, specifications, procedures, work instructions, In each of the previous processes there is a whole series of
methodologies, etc. Mechanisms or resources needed for pro- so-called critical aircraft handling activities that, in the event
cess running can be: competent staff, infrastructure, equip- of any anomalies in the implementation thereof, may result in
ment, financial means, work environment, hardware, software, aircraft delays.
partners, forms, etc. Drljača [10] concluded that at the same time, the ACHP
is a very complex structure, too. Each of the listed subprocesses
3.2. Hierarchy of Air Cargo Handling Process. The ACHP is encompasses several process steps consisting of numerous
very complex for a number of reasons: activities to be carried out to complete all actions within that
process step. In this way prerequisites for transition from one
(1) Cargo handling activities at arrival (receipt) and process step to the next are created, in such a way that at least
departure (dispatch) run simultaneously, so that one output from the previous process step is also the input to
this process has two subprocesses: (1) air cargo han- the following process step, as shown in Figures 2–5. It is not
dling subprocess–arrivals and (2) air cargo handling possible to start activities in a process step unless all activities
subprocess–departures; within the previous process step have been completed.
4 Journal of Advanced Transportation

The ACHP consists of a series of activities. What these information on the nature and stability of the product, and
activities are is determined by a written procedure. The pro- fulfil the obligation to pay fees, and costs in connection with
cedure is technology. It’s know how. Procedures define and transportation.
describe each activity, according to the sequence of execution. The process output should be completion of the air trans-
Control points are also defined at which something is meas- port service from point A to point B, in accordance with the
ured, evaluated, controlled, or at which it is decided if the requirements set by the cargo owner or its agent. Rules and
activity has been performed in compliance with the require- controls for running the process are: international documents
ments or not. If the answer is YES, the process may continue, regulating air traffic and aircraft cargo transport, customs reg-
if the answer is NO, certain activities are repeated until the ulations, security regulations, special regulations for individ-
requested quality level has been achieved. Control points serve ual cargo types such as for instance the IATA—Dangerous
to manage the process, so that it does not happen that the final Goods Regulation (DGR) for transport of hazardous sub-
results, in this case the service, does not comply with the user stances, cargo handling contracts with aircraft operators, con-
requirements. In such case, it would be too late for any tracts with customers and their agents or forwarders, national
improvement, and only a conclusion could be made that a laws and regulations, internal quality procedures, work
noncompliant service has been provided, with all conse- instructions, methodologies, etc. Mechanisms or resources
quences such as nonquality costs, loss of reputation, fall of needed for conducting this process can be: competent employ-
competitiveness, etc. [10]. ees possessing all required licenses for handling certain cargo
The procedure clearly establishes responsibility for the types or managing special equipment, infrastructure including
realization and control of the realization of each individual storage area with all necessary types of special sections (cold
activity as each of them is significant or may be problematic chambers, security vaults, storage rooms under temperature
from a safety and environment standpoint. Responsibility is regime, area for DGR goods, human remains storage (HUM),
determined by the job title. live animals storage (Live Animals Regulation—LAR), and
special equipment (forklifts, weighing devices, pallets, dollies,
thermometers, refrigerators, security screening equipment,
4. Methodology etc.) [10].
Figure 2 shows a diagram of ACHP decomposition.
In this research some general and specific scientific methods
Process input is the customer requirement. In the first process
of cognition were applied. Of the general scientific methods
step Requirement analysis (A-0.1) the customer requirements
of cognition, the system theory method was applied in the part
are analyzed, whether the process is capable to meet these
researching the ACHP. A process is a complex structure (sys-
requirements. If the analysis shows that the process is not
tem) that consists of process steps or subsystems. Each of the
capable to meet these requirements for any reason, the require-
subsystems has a significant impact on the process as a system
ment is rejected, and the customer is officially informed about
and when it comes to safety and environmental aspects, too.
this. If the requirement can be fulfilled, the next process step
Furthermore, a modelling method was applied in the research
Resources and organization planning (A-0.2) starts. In this pro-
phase in which the ACHP was modelled.
cess step resources for carrying out the ACHP in compliance
Of the specific scientific methods of cognition in this
with the customer requirements are planned. The work is
research, an analytical-synthetic method was applied in the
organized so that the process can run without setbacks. After
part of the research that relates to the structure of the ACHP
all activities in this process step have been completed, it is
and its decomposition into process steps. Also, in the study of
possible to proceed to the next process step, Preparation of
safety and environmental aspects characteristic of particular
cargo and documents (A-0.3). Preparations for physical han-
process steps. In this phase of the research, the method of
dling and documents handling is carried out within this pro-
generalization and specialization and the method of induction
cess step. Preparation for physical handling includes preparing
and deduction were used, too.
necessary Ground Handling Equipment (GSE) units and stor-
age positions for later physical manipulation of the cargo,
5. Results and Discussion forming Unit Load Devices (ULD), loading onto dollies and
the like. Preparation of documentary handling includes plan-
Input to the ACHP is the request of the owner (sender) of the ning of documentation and issuance of documents accompa-
cargo or his agent. The request shall be submitted for the car- nying the shipment, such as for instance Cargo Manifest, Air
riage of cargo by air from point A to point B in a safe and Waybill (AWB), Unified Customs Declaration (UCD) and
timely manner. When fulfilling the user’s requirements, care some other documents such as Notification to Captain
should be taken to ensure that the process is carried out in a (NOTOC) accompanying individual types of shipment or
safe manner and does not endanger the environment. At the cargo (DGR, perishable goods, live animals, etc.). Upon phys-
same time, it is required to be profitable for the handling agent, ical and documentary preparation of the cargo, the process
that is, sustainable in every way. step Cargo handling process (A-0.4) follows. Air cargo handling
In accordance with the regulations, the shipper of the is carried out in this process step, meaning physical and doc-
cargo is responsible for correctly and accurately declaring the umentary handling, running simultaneously on the airside
type of transport item, adequately and in accordance with the and landside. This process step is therefore complex and needs
regulations, pack the cargo, inform the logistics operator, and to be further decomposed (marked with a slanted line in the
the carrier about the data related to the shipment, distribute upper left corner of the graph in Figure 2) [10].
Journal of Advanced Transportation 5

Arrival in
warehouse Breakdown ULD's
A-0.4.2.1 Incoming checks
and administration Shipment
A-0.4.2.2 Sorting and
documentation issuing
A-0.4.2.3

Preparation of cargo and documentation for departure (load aircraft)

Outgoing checks
and administration
A-0.4.2.4
Security check
A-0.4.2.5 Ready to
Build ULD's go to AC
A-0.4.2.6

Figure 4: Further decomposition—cargo handling subprocess—(arrivals-departures)—landside.

Transportation
Ready
to aircraft
to go
A-0.4.3.1 Aircraft
Load aircraft
departure
A-0.4.3.2

Figure 5: Further decomposition—air cargo handling subprocess (departures)—airside.

5.1. Air Cargo Handling Subprocess (Arrivals)— place at the cargo warehouse and at the freight forwarder on
Airside. Unloading cargo of aircraft (A-0.4.1.1) is performed the landside. After the cargo has been unloaded from the
after the arrival of the aircraft on the airside. In order to aircraft and transported to the cargo warehouse, activities
better prepare the process itself, each airport receives accurate are performed as part of the Breakdown ULD’s process step
information on cargo loaded at aircraft potential DGR, special (A-0.4.2.1). By looking at the documentation and messages
goods and other specifics at the moment of departure of the determines which cargo shipments at this airport complete
aircraft from the departure point via SITA Load message the journey.
(LDM), all with the aim of timely and quality preparation for After all activities within the first process step have been
unloading cargo on landing. The shipments themselves can be completed, the execution of activities within the second pro-
in containers, pallets, bags, cages or individually, unloaded on cess step Incoming checks and administration (A-0.4.2.2) can
dollies next to the aircraft. continue. As part of this process step, inbound control of
After unloading of all consignments with equipment such incoming shipments is made, that is, compliance with sup-
as a high-loader or conveyor belts and loaded onto dollies, and porting documentation. It is also determined whether there
when supporting documentation has been taken from the is damage to the consignments, packaging, etc. If any irregu-
aircraft crew, the cargo is transported to the cargo warehouse larities are found, a record of defective goods (complaint) is
by a special tractor. Transport takes place on the basis of appro- made.
priate procedures. Transport enters the cargo warehouse, what Sorting and documentation (A-0.4.2.3) can continue. What
means landside. That is second process step Transportation to is very important from the point of view of safety and quality,
cargo warehouse A-0.4.1.2. in this process step, activities related to arrivals and departures
take place simultaneously. Cargo shipments that end the jour-
5.2. Air Cargo Handling Subprocess (Arrivals-Departures)— ney at that airport after entry control and necessary adminis-
Landside. Handling (arrivals) and handling (departures) take tration will be issued to customers or their agents. They do not
6 Journal of Advanced Transportation

need to be stored because they only pass through the of cargo. Due to different circumstances and exceptional
warehouse. situations such as delivery times, penalties, urgency or other
At the same time, the same process participants, the same contractual obligations, the goods are transported by air and
warehouse and the same agents sort and prepare the docu- would be transported in other “normal” circumstances by
mentation related to departure. Preparatory activities are car- other means (truck, ship, rail).
ried out in the fifth process step which is Outgoing checks and This fact is especially important from the point of view of
administration (A-0.4.2.4). Cargo consignments are checked safety and environmental aspects since different types of cargo
against the supporting documentation, determining possible entail different technologies and practices and entails different
damage and whether all the necessary documentation accom- types of risks that need to be taken into account.
panying the consignments has been submitted. Where neces- Appropriate documentation accompanies each air cargo
sary in accordance with regulations, customs formalities shall shipment. For all types of shipments and each piece of cargo,
be carried out. documents such as Cargo Manifest and AWB are documents
Security check (A-0.4.2.5) is the next process step that is accompanying each type of shipment. These are standard-
approached. Cargo shipments are subject to security controls ized, unique patterns that are valid worldwide. They contain
in accordance with international and national regulations and the necessary information about the shipment and other
procedures, as well as airport procedures, depending on the information needed by the participants, such as information
risk assessment. After all activities within the fifth process step about the starting point and destination of the cargo ship-
have been completed the execution of activities within the sixth ment, etc.
process step Build ULD’s (A-0.4.2.6) can continue. This is a Beside the Cargo Manifest and AWB, other documents
process step in which pallets or containers are formed, weighed, can be issued if needed, to accompany a shipment: Mail
loaded onto dollies, to prepare the cargo for transport to the Manifest (for mail), UCD, Record on Defective Cargo,
aircraft. The process flow described is shown in Figure 4. NOTOC (Special Load), ULD, DGR Checklist, Live Animals
Acceptance Checklist, Request for sanitary examination of
5.3. Air Cargo Handling Subprocess (Departure)—Airside.  Once imported shipment, etc.
the transport has been prepared, activities are carried out as Each of these documents contains information on the spe-
part of the Transportation to aircraft (A-0.4.3.1) process step, cific types of cargo shipments, given their specificities. These
as shown in the Figure 5. As in arrival, transportation is done specifics are of the utmost importance from the standpoint of
according to a special procedure. This process step depends safety and environmental aspects and should certainly be con-
on the synergy of cargo warehouse and aircraft Weight and sidered, especially in the risk assessment.
Balance offices. Prior to the start of loading, and on the basis
of the documentation obtained from the cargo warehouse, the 5.5. Safety and Sustainable Aspects of Air Cargo Handling
Load Control Officer develop a Specific aircraft type Load Plan Process.  Olapiriyakul et al. [11] concluded to resolve this issue,
in such a way that they accurately define the loading position environmental justice must be added as one of the strategic
of each consignment in terms of location in certain sections of goals to be achieved. Nocera and Cavallaro [12] said that as the
the Aircraft cargo holding bay ensuring that the actual weight main cause of global warming, CO2 emissions are a relevant
of the aircraft does not exceed the maximum structural weight externality in the transport sector.
of the aircraft (e.g. Maximum Take-Off Weight, Maximum Vidović et al. [13] reveal that other environmental aspects,
Zero Weight or Maximum Landing Weight)…, and to secure such as noise, have a significant negative impact on the sus-
that aircraft Centre of Gravity, its balance should be within tainability of the process. Most of the researchers are focusing
its limits. The Load of aircraft (A-0.4.3.2) process step means on the influence of air traffic noise and its negative aspect on
loading of cargo into the aircraft and is also done according human health and the environment. Some of the researchers
to a special procedure. The loading is monitored all the time are oriented toward operative measures to reduce the negative
by the service controller. After loading, documentation effects of noise. Ozkurt et al. [14] analyzed noise impacts of
accompanying the cargo is handed over to the aircraft crew. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport on public health. Research
Upon completion of this process step, prerequisites were showed that the number of people who are potentially exposed
created for accessing the final process step (Figure 2) Final to high noise levels and threatened by several illnesses, such
activities (A-0.5). This process step includes the activities of as hypertension and sleep disturbances, is significant in the
distribution of documentation, drafting of reports, communi- surrounding area of the airport.
cation among process participants, records, billing for the per- All the safety regulations in civil aviation were published
formed service, etc. Exit from the process is an air cargo by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and they are
handling service that, by its characteristics or quality, fulfils the applicable in European airspace. These regulations are at the
requirements of customer, which are received as process input. same time as handling procedures. The two most important
(EU) Regulations are EC/76/2014 [15] and Commission
5.4. Types of Air Cargo.  There is prejudice and it is usually Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1018 [16], where the
considered that aircrafts carry more valuable goods that suffer second one defines risky events that can happen during all
the cost of transport. This is because it is common for the price activities related to air civic aviation. Regulation 2015/1018
of air transport to be generally higher than for other modes defines events, which are used in safety reporting systems like
of transport. In principle, this is generally true, however, Safety Management System (SMS) for easier classification of
worldwide practice shows that aircraft carry almost all types reported events.
 Table 1: Safety and sustainable aspects of cargo handling process.

Handling process
Safety aspects (S) Environmental aspects (E)
step
(1) Incomplete and incorrect information from the consignor about the cargo and storage specifics (1) Space utilization
A-0.1 Requirements (2) The need for staff to send cargo to check that it can be carried by air (2) Energy utilization
analysis (3) The load on the submitted documents has the wrong mass and number of pieces (3) Production of waste
(4) The cargo is not properly marked and packaged (4) Radiant energy (heat, light)
(1) Inadequate infrastructure and surface of cargo storage (1) Space utilization
(2) The security equipment (RTG) and its dimensions for checking the cargo in the warehouse are inadequate and
A-0.2 Resources and (2) Energy utilization
do not meet national and international standards
organization
(3) Lack of education for RTG cargo screening staff (risk) (3) Production of waste
planning
Journal of Advanced Transportation

(4) Insufficient number of personnel for cargo handling in accordance with the type of aircraft (overload of existing
(4) Radiant energy (heat, light)
staff)
(1) Lack of staff training to complete the documents (1) Space utilization
(2) Errors in the entry of weight and quantity of cargo on documents (2) Energy utilization
(3) Unfamiliarity with the ground handling process (delay in distribution of documents) (3) Production of waste
A-0.3 Preparation
(4) Ignorance of the functionality of aircraft ground handling equipment and consignment consolidation units to
cargo and (4) Radiant energy (heat, light)
be used for cargo transportation (ULD, pallets, igloo)
documents
(5) Potential injury to warehouse employees (5) Air emissions
(6) Discharge into water
(7) Discharge into the soil
A-0.4 Cargo
handling process
(1) Collision of aircraft ground handling and other equipment with aircraft on the apron
(2) Health hazard of Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) noise (in case of neglect of wearing protective hearing equip-
ment)
(3) Leakage of fuel or any liquid from the handling equipment of the aircraft or the aircraft itself
(4) Injury/mortality of employees during unloading of cargo from aircraft Heavy Cargo (HEA), Dry Ice (ICE, ...) (1) Space utilization
(2) Energy utilization
A-0.4.1.1 Unloading (5) The packaging of the cargo is damaged, and its contents directly affect the personnel and the equipment un-
(3) Production of waste
cargo of aircraft loading it (poison, flammable liquids)
(4) Radiant energy (heat, light, vibration)
(6) Incoming airport does not have adequate ground handling equipment to accept cargo on arrival (improvised (5) Air emissions
equipment is used)
(7) Containment and neglect of dangerous and special cargo on the aircraft stand during high temperatures
(8) Cargo is left in front of the aircraft unattended (possible theft or uncontrolled movement)
(9) Robbery of valuable cargo unloaded from an aircraft (e.g. VAL shipment)—airside
(1) In case of insufficient cargo securing, potential drop of cargo on the parking lot or service road from the dollies
(1) Energy utilization
during transport to the warehouse
A-0.4.1.2 (2) Production of waste
(2) Safety risk and destruction of cargo value if not adequately covered on dollies under various adverse meteoro-
Transportation in (3) Radiant energy (heat, light, noise, vibra-
logical conditions
the cargo warehouse tion)
(3) Collision of equipment transporting cargo towards the warehouse with other equipment, aircraft or infrastruc-
(4) Air emissions
ture
7
 8
Table 1: Continued.

Handling process
Safety aspects (S) Environmental aspects (E)
step
(1) Space utilization
(1) Injury to employees when opening the ULD (unless the load is well stacked) (2) Energy utilization
A-0.4.2.1
(2) Potential leakage or spillage of content from the ULD can compromise its manipulation (3) Production of waste
Breakdown ULD’s
(3) Improper use of equipment may damage the ULD (4) Radiant energy (heat, light, noise)
(5) Air emissions
(1) Space utilization
A-0.4.2.2 Incoming (2) Energy utilization
(1) Simplified checks can lead to major security glitches
checks and (3) Production of waste
(2) Possible overlook due to inadequate knowledge of standards and recommended practice in cargo handling
administration (4) Radiant energy (heat, light, radiation)
(5) Air emissions
(1) Space utilization
(2) Energy utilization
(1) Inadequate storage of cargo
A-0.4.2.3 Sorting (3) Production of waste
(2) Inadequate equipment for cargo palatalization (improvisation)
and documentation (4) Radiant energy (heat, light, noise,
(3) Inadequate documentation
vibration)
(5) Air emissions
(1) Space utilization
A-0.4.2.4 Outgoing (2) Energy utilization
(1) Simplified checks of documentation and packing of cargo before being taken on board an aircraft
checks and (3) Production of waste
(2) Inadequate documentation
administration (4) Radiant energy (heat, light, radiation)
(5) Air emissions
(1) Space utilization
(2) Energy utilization
A-0.4.2.5 Security (1) Use of inadequate RTG equipment to protect cargo inspection when entering the airside zone
(3) Production of waste
check (2) Determination of the type of cargo which may not be carried by air (large quantities of radioactive material)
(4) Radiant energy (heat, light, radiation)
(5) Air emissions
(1) Space utilization
(1) Use of inadequate equipment when loading cargo into ULDs (2) Energy utilization
A-0.4.2.6 Build (2) Use of defective ULDs
(3) Production of waste
ULD’s (3) Setting up ULD cards with wrong cargo information
(4) Improper binding of cargo to/in ULDs (4) Radiant energy (heat, light, noise)
(5) Air emissions
(1) Transporting ULDs on dollies that are not specialized for ULDs (1) Energy utilization
A-0.4.3.1
(2) The possibility of dropping cargo along the service road and the apron during transportation from warehouse (2) Radiant energy (heat, light, noise, vibra-
Transportation to
to aircraft tion)
aircraft
(3) Potential damage to cargo due to transport from warehouse to aircraft (3) Air emissions
Journal of Advanced Transportation
 Journal of Advanced Transportation

Table 1: Continued.
Handling process
Safety aspects (S) Environmental aspects (E)
step
(1) Wrongly planned aircraft load plan based on incorrectly supplied data from the warehouse (1) Space utilization
(2) Use of inadequate aircraft ground handling equipment in accordance with cargo specifics (2) Energy utilization
A-0.4.3.2 Load (3) Use of faulty equipment (3) Production of waste
aircraft (4) Lack of training of personnel operating the airport equipment (4) Radiant energy (heat, light, noise,
(5) Inadequate mooring of cargo or ULD on board (possible change of the Centre of Gravity during all phases of vibration)
flight (5) Air emissions
(1) Space utilization
(2) Energy utilization
(1) Failure to inform the aircraft captain of the dangerous or special cargo loaded (3) Production of waste
A-0.5 Final activities (2) Unsigned documents by all participants in the process (4) Radiant energy (heat, light)
(3) Neglect to send a SITA LDM message to the destination airport (5) Air emissions
(6) Discharge into water
(7) Discharge into the soil
9
10 Journal of Advanced Transportation

Table 2: The importance of Air Cargo Handling Process sustainability components.

Components Component elements Importance

(1) Safety cargo handling staff
(2) Safety customers
(3) Safety freight forwarders
(4) Safety other process partners (1) Customer confidence
(2) Partner confidence
Safety (5) Safety aircraft Competitiveness
(3) process competence
(6) Safety cargo (4) market position
(7) Safety infrastructure
(8) Safety Air Cargo Handling Process
(9) Safety airport operations
(1) Society confidence
(1) Environmental management system
(2) Customer confidence
Environment (2) Green airport project Competitiveness
(3) Partners confidence
(3) Environmental costs
(4) Cost optimization
(1) Customer satisfaction
(1) Customer focus
(2) Interested parties satisfaction
(2) Interested parties requirements
(3) Integrated management system
Quality (3) Quality principles Competitiveness
(4) Cost optimization
(4) Quality costs
(5) Continuous improvement
(5) Business excellence
(6) Market position

A Ground Handling organization determines its safety and significant environmental costs in the long run and making
environmental aspects and associated environmental impacts the process unprofitable. Likewise, insufficient safety of pro-
and determines if they significant and, therefore, need to be cess employees and customer (commodity) assets would make
addressed by its SMS and Environmental Management ACHP uncompetitive and unprofitable, causing significant
Systems (EMS) as a part of handling organizations’ Integrated costs due to (non) quality (complaints, litigation, etc.), and
Management System (IMS). Each activity within the ACHP ultimately endangering the survival of the cargo handling
has its own safety and environmental aspects. Each of the agent on the market. Therefore, it is essential to properly
safety and environmental aspects shown in Table 1 can have review and evaluate the safety and sustainability aspects of
a significant impact on the functionality and quality of the ACHP in order to identify significant aspects and to manage
process and the final result of the process, which is manifested them in a way that contributes to the functionality and thus
in the air cargo handling service performed. This actually competitiveness of ACHP. To maintain the functionality of
means that the safety or environmental aspect of any activity the system, it is necessary to design a model of the function-
can endanger the whole process and its sustainability. ality of the management system within which ACHP takes
Change to the environment, either adverse or beneficial, place (Figure 6).
that result wholly or partially from environmental aspects are Business processes are part of an organization’s manage-
called environmental impacts. The environmental impact can ment system. In the Handling Agent case shown, ACHP is the
occur at local regional and global scales and also can be direct, core business process. Input into the process are requests from
indirect or cumulative by nature. The relationship between stakeholders (users, owners, immediate and wider community,
environmental aspects and environmental impacts is one of partners, and employees). During the process, environmental
cause and effect [17]. and safety aspects need to be considered, as they have a signif-
These environmental and safety aspects are due to the icant impact on the output of the process and the level of
operational providing of the technology, namely ACHP. By stakeholder satisfaction. Risk management enables the iden-
applying a specific methodology applied within the framework tification of significant environmental and safety aspects and
of the ISO 9001: 2015 quality management system and the ISO their impact on ACHP and the functionality of the handling
14001: 2015 environmental management system, the organi- organization’s entire management system. The result of the
zation has identified significant environmental and safety process is an ACH service that fulfills the requirements of the
aspects. Specific management plans are developed for them to stakeholders defined and recognized as the input of the pro-
reduce their negative environmental and the safety impact of cess. The management system within which the process takes
ACHP operations. This is often a lengthy process and requires place is based on: leadership, planning, and logistical support
investment in new equipment, employee training, implemen- for the realization of ACHP, operations whose output needs
tation of new IT solutions, and more. The goal is for ACHP to to be verified. Verification is performed to determine if the
operate in a manner that minimizes the environmental impact customer requirements and other interested parties have been
and ensures the maximum level of process safety. If no met. Following an evaluation that identifies areas for improve-
improvements were made in this segment, ACHP would have ment, an improvement plan is implemented in the next pro-
a significant negative environmental impact, causing cess cycle. The system operates in continuous cycles, on the
Journal of Advanced Transportation 11

Context of the organization

Improvement
PLAN ACT

Leadership

Performance
evalution
Planning
Interesting parties

Interesting parties
Risk managenent
Requirements

Satisfaction
Input Air Cargo Handling Process Output

Environmental aspects

Safety aspects
Support Operations
DO CHECK

Context of the organization Context of the organization

Figure 6: A model of the functionality of the management system within which ACHP takes place.

Environment Economic Safety Environment

Social Quality

Air Cargo Handling Process Air Cargo Handling Process

Figure 7: Air Cargo Handling Process sustainability matters. Figure 8: Air Cargo Handling Process sustainability components.

principle of P-lan, D-o, C-heck, A-ct, known as the Deming to improve the quality of service, which weakens the compet-
circuit [18]. The system of handling organization should be itive ability of the handling agent. This approach indicates the
viewed in context, in order to get a realistic point of view. direction of action in terms of risk identification and preven-
Management involves understanding the context. tion, and an understanding of the environmental and safety
The value of applying the model shown in Figure 6 is in aspects of ACHP. Likewise, the model integrates the techno-
presenting and understanding the model of the functionality logical aspect and the management aspect of the context in
of the management system under which ACHP takes place, which ACHP takes place.
with a focus on the specification of environmental and safety Each of the safety and environmental aspects, at any pro-
aspects that affect ACHP and significantly affect the quality of cess step, contributes to the quality of the results of the whole
process results. Without specifying the environmental and process, but can also jeopardize it. The safety and environmen-
safety aspects and without understanding the model of func- tal aspects and the description of their meaning are shown in
tionality of the ACHP management system, it is not possible Table 1.
12 Journal of Advanced Transportation

The development of long-term strategies and investments At airports, when it comes to core processes and ACHP
to achieve a sustainable industry is a key to guaranteeing the being one of them, one cannot speak of quality unless it also
future of air cargo. IATA is working on several cargo sustain- implies safety (Formula (7)). The environmental component
ability initiatives tackling environmental, social, and economic is also indispensable, because most often in addition to quality
matters [3]. Figure 7 shows how those sustainability meters and safety, it is an important and frequent part of an IMS at
produce a synergistically positive effect on the process. the airport or special cargo handling organization. Regardless
Drljača and Sesar [19] analysed that the process can take of the level of management’s knowledge, all management sys-
place even if some of the aspects are on the important level, tems are integrated to a greater or lesser extent, regardless of
but then the result of the process will not be at the highest level whether they are certified by independent certification bodies.
of safety. This circumstance could affect the cost of the service For airports and handling agents, the integration of quality
and the emergence of nonquality costs, and competitiveness management, environmental management and safety man-
of cargo handling organization, the process will not be high agement systems is common.
level safety and sustainable and in extreme cases the market
𝑃𝑆 = 𝑆𝑐 + 𝐸𝑐 + 𝑄𝑐, (7)
position can be problematic.
Safety and environmental aspects of ACHP can be dis- where symbols have the following meaning:
played in the following way: PS = ACHP sustainability,
Sc = safety components,
𝑆𝐴0𝑛 = 𝑆𝑓𝑛1 + 𝑆𝑓𝑛2 + . . . + 𝑆𝑓𝑛5 , (1) Ec = environment components,
where symbols have the following meaning: Qc = quality components.
SA0n—the safety aspects of a process steps A-0.1 to A-0.5.
Sfn1—particular safety aspect from process steps 1–5. Each of these three components has a number of elements to
The safety aspects of the ACHP can ultimately be pre- consider (Figure 8). It is also necessary to understand their
sented in the following way: importance for the entire ACHP (Table 2).
The ultimate goal of the complex ACHP research whose
𝑆𝑇 = 𝑆𝐴0.1 + 𝑆𝐴0.2 + . . . + 𝑆𝐴0.5, (2) results are presented in this paper is the need for the process
or: to be competitive. In fact, the degree of its competitiveness in
today’s global market conditions is a condition of its survival.
5
𝑆𝑇 = ∑𝑛=1 𝑆𝐴0𝑛, (3) Airlines and cargo shipment owners have the ability to choose
cargo handling agents at the vast majority of airports in the
where symbols have the following meaning: world. Therefore, the degree of competitiveness of this process
ST = the overall safety of the ACHP. is crucial for every air cargo handling agent and greatly influ-
SA0.1, 2,…, 5 = the safety of a particular process step in ences the accomplishment of its mission and its survival in the
the ACHP, from 1 to 5. market.
Related with the environmental aspects of ACHP:
𝐸𝐴0𝑛 = 𝐸𝑓𝑛1 + 𝐸𝑓𝑛2 + . . . + 𝐸𝑓𝑛5 , (4)
6. Conclusion
where symbols have the following meaning:
EA0n – the environmental aspects of a process steps A-0.1 ACHP is a complex process. This is because both activities
to A-0.5 take place at the same time: on arrival and departure, on the
Efn1 – particular environmental aspect from process steps airside and on the landside, physical ground handling and
1–5. documentary handling, too. Further, this process takes place
The environmental aspects of the ACHP can ultimately be at the same time as two other very specific processes, namely
presented in the following way: the handling of aircraft and passengers and baggage handling
process, too. This process is part of the process structure of
𝐸𝑇 = 𝐸𝐴0.1 + 𝐸𝐴0.2 + . . . + 𝐸𝐴0.5, (5) the organizations that manage it, which consists of: manage-
or: ment processes, core business processes, support processes
and measurement, analyst, and improvement processes. It is
5
𝐸𝑇 = ∑𝑛=1 𝐸𝐴0𝑛, (6) a core business process for more airports and for each special
air cargo handling organization, too. The goal is to meet cus-
where symbols have the following meaning: tomer requirements, which means that the goal is quality of
ET = the overall sustainability of the ACHP. service as a result of the process. But at airports there is no
EA0.1, 2,…, 5 = the sustainability of a particular process quality without safety. Another important component in terms
step in the ACHP, from 1 to 5. of sustainability is the environment. For this reason, when it
For the sustainability of the ACHP, as explained above, the comes to ACHP, it is necessary to consider the safety and envi-
environment, economic, and social components must be con- ronmental aspects of the process, as well as the elements of all
sidered (Figure 7). This is because sustainability is a complex three of its components: safety component, environment com-
phenomenon. In addition, these three components are in con- ponent, and quality component as an IMS. This approach
stant and intense interaction and affect each other in all creates the preconditions for continuous improvement and
directions. increasing the degree of competitiveness of the process. This
Journal of Advanced Transportation 13

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regarding the publication of this paper. Conference on Sustainable, Modern and Safe Transport.
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