Every week, CargoForwarder Global shifts it ‘Spotlight On…’ to a specific segment of the air cargo industry, illustrating just how varied, interesting, and – in this particular case – lively it is. Airports are where air cargo truly ‘happens’ – and, as a conveniently linked, cargo-centric, regional hub in Northwest Europe, unfettered by slot restrictions or night flight bans, and capable of handling all kinds of special cargo, Maastricht Aachen Airport’s cargo volumes are continuously growing. This week, Pascale de Mieter, Cargo Sales Executive, Maastricht Aachen Airport B.V., provides career insights, advice and opinions on working in the air cargo industry.
CFG: What is your current function and company? And what are your responsibilities?
PDM: I work for Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) in the commercial department, with a strong focus on air cargo and aviation.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing air cargo from almost every angle: I’ve worked for an airline, freight forwarder, handling company, broker, as a supervisor, and now finally at the airport. So, I’ve been on quite a few sides of the table by now! [Laughs].
My job is all about people, business and making things happen. I work with airlines, freight forwarders, handlers, charter operators and other partners to bring new cargo operations to MST and support our existing customers. For me, it’s not just about selling an airport; it’s about understanding what a customer needs, connecting the right people and finding a solution that actually works operationally.
CFG: What does a normal day look like for you?
PDM: A normal day? Define ‘normal’. [Laughs!] Every day is different. You can start your morning with one plan and, five minutes later, you’re dealing with a completely different situation. A customer needs something urgently, an aircraft schedule changes, a new opportunity comes in, or someone needs a solution yesterday. That’s air cargo. You plan, you adapt, you connect people and you keep moving.
And if everything goes according to plan for one whole day… I’d probably start worrying. [Laughs!]
CFG: How long have you been in the air cargo industry, and what brought you to it?
PDM: I’ve been in the air cargo business since 2001. And the funny thing is: when I started, I knew absolutely nothing about air cargo! Only the basic minimum that you pick up as a flight attendant. [Laughs] I actually started my aviation career as a flight attendant with Sabena. Somehow, my career then took a completely different direction, and I ended up in the world of cargo.
What I did bring with me, was something that has turned out to be incredibly valuable: I’m good at reading people, connecting people and building relationships. You can learn the technical side of cargo. You can learn the rules, the rates, the procedures and all the three-letter abbreviations that nobody understands at first. [Grins] But understanding people and knowing how to bring the right people together, that’s a different skill.
CFG: What do you enjoy most about your job?
PDM: The people. Without a doubt.
I love connecting with people from different companies, countries and backgrounds and figuring out how we can work together. And I strongly believe that a good team is everything.
Some of the best solutions happen when everyone is under pressure, working hard, probably sweating a little, and someone makes a joke that gets everybody laughing again. You need that. You need to be able to work hard together and still have fun doing it.
And of course, there is nothing better than seeing an aircraft arrive and knowing that everyone in the team played a part in making that operation happen. That’s when you think: okay, all those phone calls and emails were worth it! [Laughs]
CFG: Where do you see the greatest challenges in our industry?
PDM: The biggest challenge is probably keeping up with the speed of the industry while staying flexible. Customers need solutions quickly. Schedules change, capacity changes, regulations change and suddenly the solution you had yesterday no longer works today.
I think the industry needs people who are willing to think outside the box, communicate quickly and work together. Sometimes the answer isn’t immediately obvious. That’s when you need to stop looking for reasons why something can’t be done and start looking for ways to make it work.
In air cargo, ‘impossible’ should often be followed by ‘let’s see what we can do’.
CFG: What advice would you give to people looking to get into the air cargo industry?
PDM: My advice is simple:
Never give up. Move on. Don’t stop until you find a solution.
Stay calm, even when everything around you is moving at 200 kilometers per hour.
The funny thing is, I’m probably not the best example of this myself, because my head is running like a non-stop Duracell battery! [Laughs!]
Learn the business, of course. Training and courses are important, and there are some excellent aviation programs out there. But also learn how to deal with people. Listen. Ask questions. Build relationships.
And don’t be afraid of obstacles. They are there to teach you something.
I once received some very wise words from a chief pilot. He told me that once an aircraft takes off, you don’t keep looking back at what is behind you. You look ahead and deal with whatever comes your way.
I’ve always remembered that. It’s probably one of the best pieces of advice I’ve received, not only for aviation, but for life in general.
So, my advice? Keep calm, find the solution and move forward.
CFG: If the air cargo industry were a film/book, what would its title be?
PDM: ‘Cargo Avengers’ [She laughs!] Because in air cargo, everyone has their own superpower. One knows the aircraft. Another knows the cargo. Someone else knows the customer, the regulations, the ramp, the systems or somehow knows the one person who can fix a problem nobody else can solve. Individually, we all have our specialty.
But put the right people together and suddenly… mission possible. There will always be a last-minute change, a missing document, a delayed truck or an aircraft that decides to rewrite the plan. That’s when the Cargo Avengers assemble.
Different skills. Different personalities. Different superpowers.
One team. One mission: get the cargo moving.
And preferably… before someone asks: “Where is the truck?” [Guffaws!]
Thank you so much, Pascale!
If you would like to share your personal air cargo story with our CargoForwarder Global readers, feel free to send your answers to the above questions to cargoforwarderglobal@kopfpilot.at We look forward to shining a spotlight on your job area, views, and experiences.
