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GROUND SERVICE
PROVIDERS
from that airport. They're going to look at
real estate costs. They're going to look at the
city, the metropolitan area and whether it
will support the type of business it wants
to pursue, " he says.
" And of course, again, ease of use and
working in that city. Most freight forwarders
have operations at the major gateway
airports because that's where the business
is, " Fried adds.
Cargo Considerations
After a destination has been selected, there
are still considerations to be considered,
from what kind of plane will be flying into
the airport, to what cargo it will carry and
if the equipment to unload it is available.
" They want to make sure that particular
aircraft type can be supported. I'll give you
an example, the loading of a 747, a large
plane with a nose loader where the nose
opens up, will be different than a smaller
737 aircraft. You're going to need different
types of lifts. You're going to need different
types of equipment that can load large
items into that plane, " Fried says.
On the other hand, passenger planes that
have been dedicated to freight - a trend that
took off throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
- require entirely different schemes
to load and unload. With boxes strapped
into passenger seats, it's a labor-intensive
operation, with numerous workers inside
the aircraft - passing boxes to each other,
often in a bucket brigade manner.
" Do you have a roller system in place to
put it inside the cabin to move the boxes
along quicker? How are you going to get the
boxes down to the tarmac? Do you have a
chute system? Are you throwing from one
worker down to another or are you using
a scissor lift platform? These are all nitty-gritty
details that you have to have figured
out beforehand, " Fried says.
Cargo operators will therefore need to
make arrangements with a ground service
provider to secure the necessary equipment
and manpower to meet their needs.
Fuel is another factor. Adequate fueling
facilities and fueling equipment are a must
to make sure planes are turned around as
quickly as possible. As Fried states, a plane
that isn't flying isn't making money.
" I have to get back to my hub in a timely
fashion to meet my commitment there.
There can be no delay. So, I'm going to look
at the processes and procedures that you
have in place to make sure that you can
turn my airplane quickly, " Fried continues.
Airport Aspects
For airports looking to attract cargo carriers,
Fried said they first need to have the
infrastructure.
" You need to have easy access, road access,
maybe they'll look at major highways, they'll
look at the road access within your facility, "
he says. " Can you warehouse my freight
when it arrives until I come to pick it up? Can
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