Enlarging main deck for heavy air lift is today's challenge - exec

PROJECT cargo forwarding needs to increase main deck capacity beyond that of the world largest aircraft if it is to meet the challenges the industry faces today, says Jawad Kamel, founder and CEO of Istanbul-based project forwarder Advance International Transport.

"The first challenge is the future of outsize, maindeck capacity. This appears to have hit a brick wall. Since the AN-124 burst on the Western freight market in the early 1990s, we have come to rely completely on its gigantic capacity," he said.

"A replacement for the AN-124 will be required by 2025 or serious maindeck capacity beyond the B747F or any Airbus freighter capacity will vanish. Items which fly now will no longer be flown," he said.

The second challenge to air freight heavy lift operations is a resurgent heavy lift maritime sector. "How long will clients allow forwarders to charter expensive aircraft movements when an equally good but lower-cost sea alternative is available," he asked.

"As a forwarder," said Mr Kamel, "I have to say that the sea option is not one to be ignored. Heavy lift shipping lines are investing millions in ships that can handle everything that can go by air. Air supporters will say that this means journeys that take hours by air will take weeks by sea. But I wonder how important the speed air offers really is to our clients?

"As long as we educate our clients about the slower surface speeds at sea, then most will able to factor in the longer lead time to their building schedules.

"Of course, I understand that aircraft such as AN-124 and AN-225 are proven to be of excellent value for delayed and emergency shipments which can't be moved in time by other modes. They are also of critical importance for landlocked countries, which are sometimes very difficult, if not impossible to serve overland from the sea port to construction jobsite," Mr Kamel said.
 

Source: SchedNet