Change is the Challenge
April 2004
Scott Whitfill of Worldwide Flight Services discusses the daily challenges he experiences in ground handling and the fact that the people make the difference.
Q. What was your path to this industry?
A. In chronological order, US Marine Corps, air wing, C130's, aircraft maintenance, fueling, ramp handling, aircrew and GSE maintenance. Commercial and private into-airplane fueling, fuel farm management and maintenance, Jetbridge and conveyor maintenance. Commercial ramp handling, Director of Maintenance.
Q. Who are your customers?
A. My immediate customers are the operators of WFS equipment and their immediate station management. Ultimately, WFS customers are made up of major, regional and charter airlines, as well as airports around the world.
Q. What are some of the challenges you face in your day to day?
A. Mostly change. Ground handling changes daily whether it is new contracts, changing contracts, bidding contracts or changing equipment requirements on contracts. In the last year we are also beginning to experience trouble in acquisition of equipment in a timely fashion. Typically we are given 30 days or less to start contracts. If we need new equipment for those contracts, it can be difficult to source it. The suppliers are no longer keeping equipment in line to allow that sort of timeline. Last of all, pricing. Customers want us to cut their costs and our vendors want us to give them price increases.
Q. What resources do you use to help you perform your job?
A. First and foremost are the fine people that I work with. We are a small department for the size of our fleet and our ability to work together as a team is essential. Next, I consider our vendors as partners. Any WFS success is also their success. Also, I have no problem with reaching out to people with specific knowledge and experience. GSE is specialized and there are some very good resources available to us all in terms of the people in this industry.
Q. What are some of the changes/trends you've seen while in this industry?
A.. The obvious is the hard times that we all have lived with since 9/11. Though there are good signs right now, we are all still struggling in our own ways. I am pleased to see the change in our industry to becoming "green"; companies and efforts to meet environmental guideline changes. Although, I see this as one of the driving factors in cost increases in our industry.
Q. What was one of the more memorable moments in your aviation career?
A. Like many others, 9/11. This was a devastating day and the time following. The ups and downs during the decade before that, I don't remember anything that had such an impact.
Q. What do you feel the future holds for Worldwide Services?
A. Good things and growth. Today we have shareholders and management that
want to be in the ground handling business. This positive attitude filters
down. We have good people in WFS that care a lot about their customers but
also about our employees.
