Is on demand cargo dead?

[Publishers]

Ironically Atlas, Gemini, Polar, and others all were born during very tough times when the leasing companies became stuck with 747's. The put them to work when they could not lease them as did the other companies with DC10F's etc.

 

[AC560]

Ironically Atlas, Gemini, Polar, and others all were born during very tough times when the leasing companies became stuck with 747's. The put them to work when they could not lease them as did the other companies with DC10F's etc.

Polar wasn't born as a leasing company, it was a start up by a bunch of ex-Tiger guys in 93.

 

[Ill Mitch]

This guy in an MU2 is extremely unbusy. Not dead, but let's say "in critical condition and time to call the next of kin."

True dat. This MU-2 guy has seen his loads drop off by about 55% in the past 4 weeks and is hearing the couriers say "Run is gonna be cancelled" more times than he ever has.

 

[timeless]

I am just curious, do the Japanese and German automakers employ you guys for just in time delivery?

I've flown for most of the Japanese auto makers, VW, BMW, Kenworth, Caterpillar and Peterbilt. The majority of my flying is usually GM or Ford though.

As for updated equipment. On-demand freight will be the last to get it. We only run cheap stuff. You probably couldn't trade every part 135 freighter that passed through YIP in 2008 for one 747-400. It has to be an airplane that has absolutely no or few other uses. I thought ERJ 135s might find there way to freight, but then people started turning them into half price Legacys. I've also never seen a Brasilia with a big door so it might not be feasible to do it to a ERJ 135.

 

[TransMach]

Brasilia has a big door in the back!

TransMach

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

I don't know if this is on-topic, but along with AIR-21 putting the kibosh on the check haulers, it seems like a whole segment of the business is really in a twist.

Along with that, the no one is making piston twins anymore, and those Barons and 310s are going to be used up at some point.

In about 2 years or so, it's going to be a real bear for anyone to get piston multi time.

Nu

 

[cherry20's]

I thought they were still making seminoles... Not that it would be a check hauler or anything more than a trainer.

 

[Boris Badenov]

True dat. This MU-2 guy has seen his loads drop off by about 55% in the past 4 weeks and is hearing the couriers say "Run is gonna be cancelled" more times than he ever has.

Mine went a couple of weeks ago. We lost another one at that time, yet another goes Jan. 1st. However, the Fed in all of its weird, infinite wisdom, is threatening to bring them all back, but not until February. Puzzle that one out for me.

 

[Hung Start]

Heyas,

I don't know if this is on-topic, but along with AIR-21 putting the kibosh on the check haulers, it seems like a whole segment of the business is really in a twist.

Along with that, the no one is making piston twins anymore, and those Barons and 310s are going to be used up at some point.

In about 2 years or so, it's going to be a real bear for anyone to get piston multi time.

Nu

Ahhh, but the mighty 402, with the spar mod, will soldier on forever!!

Hung

 

[fleaflickerjoe]

Lawn-chairs and straps for seats, engine plugs for first class, cargo net for business and I guess you will just have to ******************** in the tool bag. Not much room for a lav with the cargo setup! Sounds first class to me!

 

[landlover]

Lawn-chairs and straps for seats, engine plugs for first class, cargo net for business and I guess you will just have to ******************** in the tool bag. Not much room for a lav with the cargo setup! Sounds first class to me!

good luck with those flight times.

 

[RedGuy]

How many hours a year have on demand freight pilots been flying lately? I had about 400 hours in 2007 and I should end up around 350-375 hours for 2008.

Last year about 1,200, this year some where around 800. We're still flying, they're making sure they get our garauntee out of us, but rarely much more.

I have hardly been flying any auto parts the last few months, more aircraft parts for the airlines, mechanics, and parts for various other manufactures.

 

[woog315]

The amount of on-demand cargo seems to be dropping drastically, but so does the amount of on-demand lift, so it's starting to balance out I think. I doubt it will ever be what it was though

 

[QOL_is_great:)]

question is will UAV technology come of age in cargo planes?

I only wonder how the rapid development of UAV technology in the military will affect civil applications.
UAVs travel half-way around the world, work on station of half a day then return to home station. The equipment/weapons doesn't care how they get to the battle so why would boxes care? The old standing joke has been boxes don't complain, right?
I can honestly see the same technology being used in planes to carry cargo. I don't see it in the pax moving side of the house in my lifetime, but in the future? Who really knows.
It's used in rotors and fixed wing aircraft now on smaller airframes so why not on the larger aircraft?
Time will only tell and the clock is running in fast mode.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

I've put some thought into this.

First, the laws are changing to integrate UAV's into the air traffic system. Even with maximum effort, the change will take 5-10 years.
The technology is progressing faster than the laws. There are already purpose built UAV's and a few 'upgrade' kits available for existing manned air craft. Old F-4's have been used as missile targets for years. I've also seen an unmanned A-10, and optionally piloted C-208 and AH-64's. There are even plans for unmanned B747's and C-5's for trans pacific routes.

That said, you can still expect 5-10 years for any large scale deployment in the civilian market and 5-10 more for general acceptance.