Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has opened its revolutionary new Integrated Hactl Control Centre (iHCC), creating a single command centre that is manned 24/7/365.

In a statement, Hactl – Hong Kong’s largest independent air cargo handler – said the iHCC centralises operations control, systems control and maintenance control for the first time, with duty managers able to monitor the entire SuperTerminal 1 facility – from traffic management at its truck parks through the many different functional areas of the terminal, to cargo dispatch activities at the airside area.

Before the opening of the iHCC, it noted that monitoring and controlling functions were decentralised to the individual Operations, Engineering and Facilities Services, and Information Services departments, which created a time lag in data collection and sharing.

"The iHCC provides comprehensive real time data, and workload forecasts for the coming eight hours, enabling instant adjustments to be made to staffing and resources to cope with any unexpected workload peaks," it added.

Hactl said the centre’s concept is similar to the emergency centres now found in many airlines and major airports around the world.

"iHCC provides totally-comprehensive, accurate and instantaneous information on every aspect of Hactl’s giant operation; this is available to those managers with the required access rights, providing them with an holistic view of operational status of both cargo and flights," said Paul Cheng, Hactl's executive director – Operations.

"Not only does this enable us to run our everyday operations at a new level of efficiency, it means we can forecast potential problems before they create issues. That places us in a better position to cope with every kind of potential emergency – including any future pandemic or similar large-scale crisis," Cheng added. 

The new Hactl iHCC is equipped with systems and equipment to keep SuperTerminal 1 running smoothly and seamlessly, the air cargo handler said, including its self-developed cargo management system, which connects all air cargo stakeholders such as government bodies, airlines and freighter forwarders, and processes around one million data transactions every day.

"The current capacity crunch in the air cargo industry has led to a surge in ad-hoc charter freighters and ‘preighters’. Airlines demand more agility and sustainability in ground handling to support their businesses, with more short-notice flights, later cargo cut-off times, last-minute manifest changes and shorter turnaround times driven by crew schedule changes," Cheng said.

One area in which iHCC is already proving its value is dealing with the problem of empty containers taking up storage locations in Hactl’s Container Storage System, due to severely-reduced passenger flight frequencies, Hactl said.

"The iHCC perfectly fits the more demanding air cargo industry scenario of today, and ensures customer requirements are handled in an effective and efficient manner," Cheng added.