Aircraft on Ground (AOG) Shipping
What is AOG?
AOG stands for Aircraft on Ground which is a term that can cause immediate panic for many in the airline industry. On-ground, meaning> that an airplane is indefinitely grounded. This aircraft on the ground is usually in need of repair or it could be out of commission for a longer period of time. It is extremely costly to have an aircraft out of commission. For instance, an airline with a grounded passenger plane incurs the cost of reimbursement to the passengers for their lost flight and nearby accommodation. In addition, they must also pay their airline employees and for the storage of the plane at the airport.
This is where Aircraft on Ground shipping becomes a priority. AOG logistics and shipping is critical for private and commercial carriers. Often a jet engine, part or entire aircraft must get from point A to point B as quickly as possible so companies look towards AOG shipping to do just that. This is necessary in order to minimize the continuously growing costs- which can be hundreds of thousands of dollars a day!
Impact Of Coronavirus On Airline Industry
It’s no surprise that the coronavirus outbreak has forced many people and businesses across the globe to cancel their travel plans. In fact, there were nearly 1 billion fewer global air passengers in the first six months of 2020. Similarly, air transport has dropped by as much as 90% in the same time period. With less air travel and trade, air cargo volumes have also dropped significantly and were almost 30% lower at one point. These significant decreases have led to an increased need for aircraft storage facilities because the number of private aircraft on ground and commercial aircraft on ground have drastically increased.
Many of the biggest aircraft storage operations are in locations such as California, New Mexico, and Arizona for a reason. First off, these facilities have low humidity which prevents corrosion on an aircraft and promotes longevity. Secondly, these facilities have more than enough space to accommodate any size private or commercial plane.
Why You Need A Transportation Partner in 2021
The costs of aircraft storage facilities can quickly add up. Aircraft storage facilities tend to charge a base rate for storing a plane. But the biggest expense is the cost of the aircraft services to keep the plane ready to return to the skies. This cost depends on what services are required but begins at about $2,000 per plane a month.
Air traffic is expected to make a slow and gradual recovery to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 2024. In fact, many industry experts expect the airline industry to have a positive fourth quarter in 2021. So as the aviation and airline industry see more activity, airlines will look towards transportation partners to pull aircraft out of storage and back into hangers. A trusted transportation partner like Next Exit Logistics can help:
- Lower costs by efficiently coordinating the movement of both private aircraft on ground and commercial aircraft on ground from point A to B.
- Save time by arranging long term to short term transportation for you wherever that may be for you.
- Deliver your shipment with care and superior service from a specialist in heavy equipment transport.
Don’t let the costs or stress of returning aircraft to hangers be more than what it needs to.
AOG Shipment for a Professional Sports Franchise
One of the most interesting AOG shipments we have done was for a professional sports team’s plane. They called to tell us that their plane’s engine had lost a fan blade and they needed their Rolls Royce RB211 engine delivered ASAP. After that, we quickly got a crane ready to load their special cargo onto an air ride trailer. Their jet engine was delivered to Houston overnight and they were able to make it to their game that week!
Why You Should Choose Next Exit Logistics
Whether you are having an emergency or planning for regularly scheduled AOG maintenance, Next Exit Logistics is ready to arrange transportation for your aircraft engine and parts with our AOG shipping services. Our carriers invest in the latest shipping technology and skillfully fit your equipment with protective pads and tarps to help protect your shipment from road hazards and extreme weather.
Our unique combination of certifications, services, and our contractors’ expertise in arranging optimal routes makes us one of America’s leading heavy equipment brokers and transportation management companies. So regardless if you need local, regional, or transcontinental aerospace transport, contact us to receive superior private aircraft on Ground and commercial aircraft on ground shipping services from your first phone call to the final unload of your aerospace equipment.
Emergency Shipping
Do you have emergency shipping needs? Our best clients sometimes have emergencies come up in their supply chain. The majority of Next Exit Logistics’ clients are vendors for their own customers. Their customers measure them by the speed of their response when the pressure is high. Here is a much appreciated thank-you letter a client sent us just last week for our successful solution for her urgent shipment:
Good morning all!
First I want to say THANK YOU to everyone involved in this major emergency project. Having something last minute is always a tense situation especially when it is time sensitive, but Next Exit really pulled thru for us! The equipment was here on time this morning and it is currently being off loaded now. Our customer will be extremely happy, and in turn so are we!
Our client reached out to us at 10:30 AM about her emergency shipment. She was very concerned about this shipment arriving to its destination on time. The equipment needed to be picked up that same afternoon and delivered first thing the next morning. It was an all-hands-on-deck situation for us! We assured her that there was no need to worry and we would handle everything from there. Our team was able to put together a solution for an overnight driver to deliver everything by 7 AM the next day. She was relieved.
Above all else, our client’s response is why we do what we do. We are here to take our clients’ emergency shipping stress and turn it into emergency shipping success! Likewise, we want you to have confidence when you entrust someone with your important and time sensitive shipments. Be sure to let us know when you have an emergency shipment and we will make sure it is safely delivered on time.
Five steps for trucking companies to become more desirable to a shipper. Part 1
- Please update us when you have arrived at the pickup. WHY? The shipping location might need to direct your driver and truck to a certain location on the property for their safety. This action can save you time, avoid hazards at the site, and get loaded faster. You might accidently be at the wrong gate or yard (I know this never happens). This helps me hold the rest of the supply chain accountable. I can notify our client, and I can alert the crew needed to start loading. This prevents wasting your valuable hours of service.
- Inform us that your loaded BEFORE you have departed. WHY? To make certain the truck was provided all the correct documents at loading. In case the shipment isn’t loaded legally, safely, or correctly. We can ensure the right items are loaded on your truck. I can now notify the receiver their material is on the way.
- Let us know when you arrive at the receiver. WHY? The GPS gets you to an address but, sometimes the delivery site is many acres in size. The truck can’t see or figure out where to go to find the unloading location. The staff might be working near loud machinery, or don’t have windows in order to see or hear that you have arrived. I might have someone meet your truck and guide you safely to the exact place to park for unloading.
- I would love to have an update when you have departed the receiver. WHY? The destination might not understand the amount of time a truck needs to put the tools away after an unload. I might have a reload for you ready now. I need to inform the client that is not at the jobsite know that the unload is complete.
- Email us a photo of your truck loaded with this freight. WHY? This could possibly prove that you secured this shipment safely. The new people in the office get more interested in carriers when they see the photo. I have seen employees go out of their way to find work for trucks that send photos. Our office has picked one carrier over another for future shipments just because they emailed to the dispatchers a couple of amazing photos of your truck and the shipment. I have personally seen a shipper spend 10 weeks building a project that took 15 minutes to load and the shipper and the staff is so proud to see their finished work. This is free advertising for you, and no one else will do this.
This is written from a flatbed, step deck, specialized, and heavy haul perspective. But I know some of this is accurate for 53’ dry vans. I am not a shipper, but we have clients that want us to fully act on their behalf for their projects. Chandler Magann
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