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Air Charter Service’s London office recently arranged two charters for a very awkward load from France into Nigeria.

The cargo was fourteen 12½ metre long oil pipes urgently needed for an FPSO unit (Floating Production Storage & Offloading) just off the coastal city of Lagos. An FPSO unit is a floating vessel used by the offshore industry for the processing and storage of oil and gas. Some of the pipes weighed almost 9 tonnes and had to be hoisted with cranes onto carefully positioned highloaders at Châlons Vatry airport in France and then offloaded in a similar fashion in Lagos.

Ben Dinsdale, senior account manager at ACS said: “It was such an awkward load that some operators had refused to quote on the business, but careful planning from the airline and myself meant that we were able to load it onto two B747-400Fs using two highloaders side by side.

“The flight went without a hitch, and the client praised the efficiency of the handling agents we had appointed.” 

Air Charter Service are specialists at providing creative solutions for all cargo requirements whether it be a small propeller aircraft, or much larger cargo aircraft.

Dan Morgan-Evans, Cargo Assistant Director of ACS’s London office, recently flew a shipment that took meticulous planning. It was a 30 ton control unit that was needed in Nigeria.

The dimensions of the unit meant that it only just squeezed inside the IL-76 aircraft that was chartered. Dan’s years of experience paid off, as he discussed with various operators whether it was in fact loadable at all. He insisted that loadmasters went to the site, measured everything and checked before a contract was agreed.

As can be seen from the photos, it fitted with only millimetres to spare. Dan commented: “When I first saw the dimensions, I knew it was going to be touch and go as to whether we could fit it into the Ilyushin, but the operator and I made all the necessary checks before we said yes”.

Using the IL-76 aircraft instead of the next step up (the AN-124) meant that the client paid less then half of what it would have cost without the thorough planning. The aircraft arrived safely in Port Harcourt, and the client was full of praise for ACS’s professionalism.

Air Charter Service perform over 4,000 full charters every year ranging from cargo aircraft to commercial airliners, to private jet charters.

For any aircraft charter requirement please contact our team: cargo.sales@aircharter.co.uk

Air Charter Service’s cargo department has been working tirelessly for the past week on solutions to overcome the problems caused by the volcanic ash cloud.

Justin Lancaster, Cargo Sales Director, explains: “Initially people thought that the closure of the airspace would last a day or two, but over the first weekend the realisation that this was much more serious sunk in, and forwarders began to panic. The phones went really mad with people looking for the earliest availabilities and other alternatives, and we had a number of staff in the office over the weekend, including a few people who even slept here!”

ACS used Spain as a hub to bring goods into Europe and to fly them out, as people were a lot more willing to truck goods further than normal just to get their freight on their way.

“We were getting a lot of requests for all sorts of shipments on routes where you wouldn't normally need a charter – for example from the US to Europe, where there's always good capacity. These aren't usual charter routes.”

With flights only just resuming part way through last week, companies have been desperate for any type of capacity on almost any route into or out of Europe.

Lancaster added: “Before the volcano erupted some carriers were already asking for two to three weeks' notice for bookings, and the availability of wide-bodied aircraft from the Far East was already bad - this situation has made it a lot worse.”

Air Charter Service expects the back log to last for a while yet, and will continue to help its customers moving their cargo around the world.

For any aircraft charter requirement please contact our team: cargo.sales@aircharter.co.uk

Air Charter Service was called into action less than an hour after a devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Just before 10pm UK time (5pm local time) on Tuesday evening a massive earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck less than ten miles from the centre of Port-au-Prince - the capital of Haiti. It is the largest earthquake to hit the country in two centuries. It is estimated that upwards of 50,000 people may have died as a result of the initial earthquake and the 13 subsequent aftershocks, and more than half a million homes have been affected.

As a result, millions of pounds worth of aid has been pledged by the British Government and various charities. Despite the snowy conditions in southern England on Wednesday, Air Charter Service managed to work with Gatwick Airport to clear a runway so that the chartered Boeing 757 could depart with the UK search and rescue teams.

Matthew Purton, Passenger Sales Manager at ACS’s London office, said: “We started receiving calls at about 11pm from the British Government for an aircraft to carry an assembled team of approximately 80 firefighters, aid workers and journalists to the affected area as soon as possible. We were working throughout the night contacting the appropriate airlines and handling agents to organise the UK’s response to the disaster.”

ACS had three representatives at Gatwick first thing on Wednesday morning coordinating the aid teams and arranging check in. James Leach of ACS travelled on board the aircraft: “We flew into Santa Domingo in the neighbouring Dominican Republic as when we left the UK the control tower at Port au Prince was not operational. From what I have seen so far, the devastation appears to be on a par with when I was in Banda Aceh following the tsunami in December 2004.” James Leach is remaining on site to coordinate further relief flights.

ACS's London office has chartered further passenger and cargo aircraft, ACS also has additional aircraft operating from Scandinavia, and flights organised by the company’s Spanish and U.S. offices are also currently underway.

To find out more about ACS's relief efforts, or any aircraft charter at all, please contact us: cargo.sales@aircharter.co.uk

Air Charter Service was recently called into action after a ship ran aground close to the town of Lagoa, the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean.

The 8,000 ton German cargo ship fortunately had a double hull, which meant that only the outer shell had been penetrated. So there was no spillage, and the vessel was in no immediate danger of sinking, but still needed to be treated by a specialist chemical system in order to minimize the potential corrosive damage caused by seawater before being towed for repair.

This is when Dan Morgan-Evans, Cargo Manager ACS London, received a call. The treatment had to be flown out to Ponta Delgado Airport – also on São Miguel Island in the Azores – but was located in the UK and mainland Europe. For maximum effect the treatment must be applied within a matter of days, so urgent charters were needed. Dan sourced two Antonov 12 aircraft to carry 8 tons of kit each – one departing from East Midlands Airport and one from Amsterdam.

Within a couple of days of the ship reporting the problem the necessary equipment was in Lagoa and ready to be used. After the process was completed, the ship was refloated and towed to its base port in Hamburg, Germany for full repair.

For any aircraft charter requirement please contact our team: cargo.sales@aircharter.co.uk

Thomas Howe, cargo charter account manager ACS London, recently helped with the fighter jet trials for the Indian Air Force. Jets from all over the World flew to India for the project which aims to acquire 126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the IAF. The various fighters are to be put through their paces in two sets of trials to be conducted in summer and winter, ranging from the snow-capped peaks of Leh to the extreme heat of the Rajasthan deserts and humid conditions of southern India.

Thomas helped by sending ground support equipment on four IL-76 aircraft. “Each set of trials lasts for a few weeks, so the aircraft needed GPUs, air conditioning units, ladders, etc”, he said. ”We transported everything they needed over to India, so that they were not without anything whilst there.”The operation, as far as our part was concerned, was a great success – the results of the trials however, will not be know for months”.

The latest string to Air Charter Service’s bow, Air Courier Service, got off to a flying start with an intercontinental booking in its first full week of operation. Air Courier Service is the new on board courier arm of ACS. The couriers are available 24 hours a day, and ready to take the next available flight with small shipments that would be considered too small to charter an entire aircraft.

A multinational internet support company had an urgent computer part that was required in Delhi that weekend. Jacob Ayley, flight support executive, took the call. Ayley quickly came up with a solution for the client, and immediately offered it. It was swiftly accepted and the wheels of the operation went into motion. The whole process went very smoothly, and the aircraft arrived in Delhi at lunchtime on the Sunday, and the part was hand delivered at its final destination.

The piece arrived in time to start working when it was needed, and the client was very pleased, commenting “My experience of dealing with ACS has been an extremely positive one and I will happily use your services again. I will also have no hesitation in recommending ACS to business acquaintances”. He then added, “Jacob did a fantastic job”.

For more info on Air Courier Service, email us obc@aircharter.co.uk
For all other charter enquiries cargo@aircharter.co.uk

On Friday 13th March the staff at ACS London, got into the spirit of Red Nose Day to raise some money and arrived at work all determined to win the coveted prize of best costume.

Throughout the day there were fun activities, including Ben Dinsdale dying his beard red when donations smashed through the minimum of £150, a cake sale and an ACS master chef competition all of which raised money for this amazing charity.

With the donations and pledges that went on throughout the day the staff at ACS London raised an amazing £704.80, which was matched by ACS making the total up to £1409.60.

ACS recently chartered two business jets to transport medical treatments to London and Manchester hospitals. Due to time restraints, two aircraft had to be used to transport the packages or radioactive cargo to its destination where it was to be used to treat liver cancer.

The cargo, ready and waiting in Frankfurt at 10am needed to be in London and Manchester by 1pm. Due to the cargo being classified as dangerous goods, the choice of aircraft was limited, but ACS’ knowledge and expertise of the market enabled them to find a solution.

James Cristofoli from the London cargo department worked with the London passenger team, using their knowledge to find suitable aircraft that could get the treatments to the hospitals in the quickest possible time.

This charter required management of simultaneous departures from different airports, two separate operators going to different airports. Both of the flights went smoothly with the cargo being delivered to their respective hospitals on time ensuring that the patients received their treatments. The knowledge and expertise of cargo and passenger account managers at ACS ensures that each and every time the most suitable aircraft is used. ACS cargo staff are extensively trained to work with any cargo including dangerous goods. This ensures no time is wasted and no risks are taken getting your dangerous cargo to its destination on time and in safety.

Contact a cargo sales manager now cargo@aircharter.co.uk

Zimbabwe, a country that is already under strain is now faced with an outbreak of cholera. In a country hit by hyper inflation rendering what little food there is unaffordable; five million people are now thought to be in need of food aid. An outbreak of cholera has put further strain on dwindling medical resources, and a failing water supply has left many vulnerable.

Air Charter Service worked alongside a Spanish relief agency to fly aid into Zimbabwe. Richard Thompson cargo charter analyst assisted the Spanish Red Cross in chartering an IL-76 aircraft to take aid, including the following, medical supplies/equipment, all terrain truck, 4x4 vehicle, rations and body bags, from Torrejon Air Force Base to Harare.

In total 17 tons of cargo was delivered to help relieve the suffering of the tens of thousands hit by the cholera epidemic sweeping the country.

ACS work with a number of relief agencies who have come to value the quick thinking and extensive knowledge of ACS account managers to find the quickest most cost effective charter solution.

Contact cargo@aircharter.co.uk for more information