Virgin Atlantic gives CSafe RAP containers the thumbs up

January 29, 2018

Virgin Atlantic Cargo has become the first UK airline to approve the use of CSafe’s RAP container for temperature-sensitive life-enhancing healthcare products.

Under the terms of its Master Lease Agreement with CSafe, Virgin is now accepting bookings for the RAP containers, which have received approval from both the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The airline already offers customers the opportunity to lease the CSafe RKN container as well as Envirotainer’s RKN t2, RAP t2, RKN e1 and RAP e2 units.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo manager for products and partnerships, Darren Sherlock says: “We are delighted to be the first UK airline to be able to offer the CSafe RAP to customers, extending the choice of temperature-controlled active and heating and cooling containers Virgin can supply.

With our pharma volumes growing by more than 20% in 2017 and coming just weeks after the opening of our new Pharma Zone at London Heathrow, this latest enhancement to our service offering underlines our commitment to be a leading provider of pharma transportation by offering our customers the widest choice of solutions, supported by the highest levels of customer service.”

The CSafe RAP has a temperature range that is user selectable from +4C to 25C with operational capabilities achieving desired set points even at extreme temperatures from -30C up to +54C.

The RAP uses CSafe’s active Temperature Management System, which utilises compressor driven cooling technology and a radiant heating system, in conjunction with CSafe’s ThermoCor vacuum installation panel technology.

It has a maximum payload of 4.8 tonnes and is designed to accept up to four US wooden pallets or five Euro pallets, and has an extended battery run time of up to 100 hours for typical shipments.

CSafe Global vice president of global marketing and partnership management, Brad Jennings says: “CSafe is very excited to add Virgin Atlantic to the roster of airlines that have gained flight approval for our newly developed CSafe RAP active container.

“The combination of Virgin Atlantic’s expansive network and the superior quality and performance of the CSafe RAP offers a powerful solution for the transportation of temperature-sensitive products around the world.”