   
             Welcome to the 
   misc.transport.air-industry.cargo FAQ
     
         
    Last Revised: September 25, 1996

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            Table of Contents:

1) What is m.t.a-i.c.?
2) What is a "moderated" newsgroup?
3) What posts are accepted in m.t.a-i.c.?
4) What posts are rejected from m.t.a-i.c.?
5) What languages can be posted to m.t.a-i.c.?
6) What is on the m.t.a-i.c. Home Page?
7) What other FAQs are available for m.t.a-i.c.?
8) Where is the most current version of this FAQ?

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1) What is m.t.a-i.c.?

m.t.a-i.c. is a newsgroup for the discussion and 
sharing of questions, comments, ideas, and 
experiences of those in the air cargo and freight 
forwarding industry. It is a source for comments on 
domestic and international air carriers as well as 
providing a global forum of freight forwarders and 
shippers for questions regarding import/export 
procedures and specific country information.

It is important to remember that while supporters of 
m.t.a-i.c. include members of all major airlines, 
cargo agents, and trade associations the responses 
and comments of the readership are not necessarily 
proven fact and may be subjective.

(unless proven documentation can be provided)
 
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2) What is a "moderated" newsgroup?

This is a moderated newsgroup. When you post to an 
unmoderated group, your post will appear as quickly 
as your provider will allow, generally within minutes. 

When you post to a moderated group, your posting is 
emailed to a submission address and the moderator(s) 
forward the post to the newsgroup. The time it takes 
your post to appear depends on the frequency of the 
moderator(s) checking their email. Keep in mind that 
most moderators have other full time jobs and will
forward your post as soon as possible. 

The moderators of m.t.a-i.c. try to forward posts 
at least twice per day (or as needed). In other 
words, when you post to m.t.a-i.c., allow a day 
for your posts to appear.   

If reading m.t.a-i.c. from our Home Page via the 
WWW-to-Usenet Kochi Interface, allow a day or two
for your post to appear.

The reasons for moderation in a newsgroup vary. 
m.t.a-i.c. is moderated for the sole purpose of 
eliminating spam and abusive/inflammatory/ and 
illegal posts. It is the position of the 
moderators that there is no place in an 
informational newsgroup for this.

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3) What posts are accepted in m.t.a-i.c.?

Any question or comment that deals with air cargo
or the import-export industry is acceptable providing 
it is not spam, obscene, collusional, or otherwise 
illegal.(see #4) Posts that are off topic or better 
suited to another existing group will be returned 
with a explanation and a recommendation to post it 
to a more appropriate group.
  
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4) What posts are rejected by m.t.a-i.c.?

(The following are examples of posts that will be 
rejected by the moderators. In the event of a 
rejection, the post will be sent back to the sender 
with an explanation for the rejection and a copy of 
this FAQ.)

Advertising of a product or service is not allowed 
in m.t.a-i.c. For advertising, see the 
alt.business.import-export.* groups.

Job listings in the air cargo and imp-exp field are 
allowed as long as they do not include "cattle calls" 
for sales people or reps. The Moderators reserve 
the right to make that decision.

Repetitive posts from the same source, or responses 
that offer no additional information other than
 "I agree".

Posts that ask a question that has been answered 
numerous times will be returned with a copy of 
"The Official m.t.a-i.c. FAQ", a document that will 
be created over time and constantly updated. 
It will be posted to the group as well as being 
available on the m.t.a-i.c. Home Page (see # 11)
 
Any abusive/inflammatory/obscene post will 
immediately be rejected.

Any collusional rate discussion or otherwise illegal 
post will be rejected. (Ex: anti-trust issues)
 
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5) What languages may be posted to m.t.a-i.c.?

While the import-export business is by nature 
international, the language skills of the readership 
(and moderators!) is not. Currently the newsgroup 
will allow postings in English and Spanish
only. As the readership grows, the need presents 
itself, and additional bi-lingual moderators 
are added, the group will open itself to other 
languages.

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6) What is on the m.t.a-i.c. Home Page?

It is the Official Home Page for m.t.a-i.c. and 
is the archive for all past posts to the group, 
copies of the most current FAQs, and detailed 
information and links for reading and posting to 
m.t.a-i.c. for those with WWW or email-only 
internet access.

The m.t.a-i.c. Home Page is found at 

http://www.concentric.net/~aircargo
(or) http://www.logisticstraining.com)

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7) What other FAQs are available for m.t.a-i.c.?

Currently the "Welcome to m.t.a-i.c." FAQ is the 
only one released.

Work is being completed on the following:

"The Official m.t.a-i.c. FAQ" 
 - Frequently Asked Questions to m.t.a-i.c. -

"The m.t.a-i.c. Air Cargo Carriers Index"
 - A listing of air carriers and their 
   phone #'s, mailing addresses, and links -

"The m.t.a-i.c. Forwarders Index"
  - A listing of freight forwarders and their 
    phone #'s, mailing addresses, and links -

Additional FAQs will be added  
Readership recommendations welcome
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8) Where can I find the most current version 
   of this FAQ?

The "Welcome to m.t.a-i.c. FAQ is posted monthly 
to the group but may also be obtained from the 
m.t.a-i.c. Home Page or by sending a request to 
aircargo@cris.com and including
"Please send Welcome FAQ" in the text.

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9) Who are the moderators?

Current moderators of m.t.a-i.c. are:

Moderator: Michal Douglas 

Michal Douglas is a Director for Coastal Air Transport,
 an air cargo operator since 1981, servicing domestic 
as well as Mexican/U.S. routes of maquiladora, 
perishables, and oil exploration equipment. Mr. Douglas 
is also Director of Administration for Downtown Air
Center, a Mobile, Alabama based high-volume FBO 
specializing in heavy aircraft fueling, fuel systems 
maintenance, and ground handling. Customers include 
all major carriers in the air industry. 

Moderator: Jim Powell 

Jim Powell is President of Transportation Development 
Group, a logistics consulting and training company 
specializing in the air cargo industry. Jim has 20 years 
experience in air freight and has held executive positions 
at a number of air cargo companies including DHL,
AEI, Skyway and Northern Air Freight. TDG is a certified 
IATA training school and teaches the IATA/FIATA Cargo
 Agent Training program for CNS. 

Moderator: Martin Brennan 

Martin Brennan is the Air Cargo Marketing Director for 
the Journal of Commerce and it's air cargo magazine 
supplement AIRCOMMERCE. He possesses over 
twelve years experience working with all the major trade
associations-IATA, FIATA, ALACAT, TIACA, AATA, 
Air Cargo Shippers Conference, Air Cargo Inc., and 
Airports Council International. He is a member of the 
Kennedy Airport Airlines Management Cargo Commitee
(KAAMCO), CLM, and the Air Cargo Association of New 
York. Prior to the Journal of Commerce, Mr. Brennan 
sold freight forwarding services for an international 
forwarder. He has extensive knowledge of carriers, air
cargo agents, shippers, couriers, airports and the issues 
confronting the air cargo industry. He travels worldwide 
and can be seen at all major industry events. 

Additional moderators in the field of exportation will 
be added at a later date.

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This ends the "Welcome to m.t.a-i.c." introductory FAQ.

Questions and comments to aircargo@cris.com

Written by:  Michal Douglas
