Types of Goods Transported by Air and How to Ensure Safety?

Do you need assistance with urgent heavy cargo, sensitive cargo, or fragile cargo? Are you looking for a high quality and trusted Air cargo charter with best rates to book?

From short domestic flights to long haul international travel, air transport is a big part of the travel and tourism industry.

Air cargo transports over US $6 trillion worth of goods annually, accounting for approximately 35% of world trade by value; during the COVID-19 pandemic, air cargo represented one-third of airlines’ revenue.

Two main factors define the choice of air transport for certain products: the value of the commodities and the speed with which they must be transported. Urgent materials such as radiopharmaceuticals for medical diagnosis or treatment or high-value goods such as technological products and high value commodities are typically shipped by air cargo. Air transport is also ideal for certain food products such as fresh fish, exotic fruits and cut flowers. The growth in demand for the transport of pharmaceutical and healthcare products has also resulted in the introduction of new regulations for the proper handling of time and temperature sensitive shipments.

iJET Charter offers you customized solutions for different flight types, including Cargo Charter, Private Charter, Air Ambulance/Medical Evacuation, Helicopter, Corporate air Charter. iJET Charter could also assist you with short-notice requests to destinations worldwide.

With iJET Cargo Charter we ensure your cargo flies safely and smoothly to its destination, on the time that suits you, and on a dedicated plane.

What Is Cargo Air Transport?

Air cargo transport is the transfer of any type of product from one point to another in the world by air. The aircraft used in these cases have a wider fuselage than the passengers which increases their capacity. In addition, they have a greater number of wheels, a greater stability during the landing as well as an ability to land on less prepared tracks, and have several large doors for a comfortable and efficient entry and exit of goods.

Nowadays air transport, both cargo and passengers, has the aim to reduce the impact it has on the environment. Currently, aircraft models are available with new materials, hybrids and powered by other types of energy, such as solar or electric.

iJET Charter is your answer for reliable and cost-effective air cargo charter. From dangerous good to humanitarian aids, from relief cargo to outsized cargo.

iJET Charter is a global aircraft charter company with best rates, which you can rely on to deliver your cargo safely and smoothly to any place around the world

 

What Is Transportation by Air Called?

Air freight is another term for air cargo that is, the shipment of goods through an air carrier. Air transport services are the most valuable when it comes to moving express shipments around the globe. Just like the commercial or passenger airlines, air freight flies in the same gateways.

 

What Types of Cargo Are Transported by Air?

Although passengers and cargo are very often carried in the same aircraft together, for an airline these are two distinctly different businesses each with its own requirements and unique challenges. Let’s take a closer look at the cargo business.

There are two main groups for cargo transportation: General Cargo and Special Cargo.

General cargo are items that do not fall into the Special Cargo categories and that do not require any extra precautions or special handling during air transport. These types of items are retail and most consumer goods (with the exception of mobile phones, tablets and laptops) , dry goods, hardware, textiles, and more. Think of your average, everyday objects; most of those would fall into the general cargo area.

Special cargo are goods that, due to their nature, weight, dimensions and/or value, may have specific requirements including packaging, labelling, documentation and handling through the transport chain. The transport of these goods are addressed through specific regulations that must be followed when preparing, offering, accepting and handling this cargo. Items include dangerous goods, live animals, perishable cargo, wet cargo, time and temperature sensitive products among others. To ensure that there are globally harmonized standards that ensures the safe and facilitates of these products, IATA has three Boards: the Dangerous Goods Board (DGB), Time and Temperature Working Group (TTWG), and the Live Animals and Perishables Board (LAPB), which manage the standards and guidance related to the transport of these products.

In addition to below other types:

Temperature Controlled: This service is for the items that require to be stored under a certain temperature due to the special nature of the cargo. Such as fruits, vegetables, medical kits, etc.

Dangerous/Hazardous Cargo: Few categories are falling under hazardous cargo. Some of these categories are flammable, poisonous, radioactive, explosive … etc. These items should be packed properly and loaded in a certain space in the airplane. For this reason, the rates are expected to be higher than the general cargo. Especially in a passenger aircraft.

Live Animals: The service is normally used for pets. Shipping live animals (dogs, cats, turtles, etc.) requires a properly ventilated area and they should be placed in a suitable crate that allows their comfortable stay during the flight. The rate will be based on the chargeable weight of the crate (with the pet inside).

Air freight shipments are a delicate process that requires a series of logistical services for the success of shipping perishable goods, especially food shipments that need great care, temperature control and a commitment to deliver the shipment on the precise timeline

iJET Cargo Charter services include:

• Automotive
• Humanitarian aid & relief
• Energy
• Livestock or Live animals
• Animal welfare
• Logistics & supply chain
• Appliances & furniture
• Hospital equipment and more

 

What Are Dangerous Goods?

Dangerous Goods are items that may endanger the safety of an aircraft or persons on board the aircraft. Dangerous Goods are also known as restricted articles, hazardous materials and dangerous cargo. Many common items found in your household can be considered dangerous goods for the purpose of air transport if not properly handled in use or in transport.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or the local Civil Aviation Authority Regulations govern their carriage onboard aircraft.

 

9 Classifications of Dangerous Goods:

• Explosive: Explosives have molecules designed to rapidly change their (usually solid) state into very hot gas, in order to produce a sudden and violent physical effect.
  Explosives are declared as NEQ (Net Explosive Quantity) when described in the transport document, separate to the gross weight.

 

• Gases: Gases are mostly carried under pressure to reduce their volume, and hence to save space in transport and storage.
  This pressure itself creates a danger if it is released suddenly. Pressure never dissipates, unlike heat, which is transferred to or from the surroundings until a uniform temperature prevails

 

• Flammable liquids: Some flammable liquids derive from petroleum, e.g. petrol, kerosene. Others are manufactured through natural or industrial processes, e.g. alcohols. Storage of flammable liquids is subject to very strict regulations.
  The vapours are invisible, and always much heavier than air. They will flow downhill and collect at the lowest point. The vapours mix readily with air, when the mixture is within the explosive limits for the particular material, it will burn or explode when ignited.

 

• Flammable Solids: These will burn easily, more so than ordinary combustible materials such as wood and paper. The burning may be fierce and rapid, creating great heat. Some 4.1 are desensitized explosives, e.g. wetted trinitrotoluene (TNT) which would otherwise be in Class 1. Some are self-reactive, and are liable to break down chemically, if they get above certain temperature, or are subjected to shock etc.
  They may then decompose explosively, or burn vigorously, or produce toxic gases or vapours.

 

 

• Oxidizing Substances: Because of their high oxygen content, these are often reactive materials. They may react with other flammable or combustible materials, and the heat generated may start the latter burning. Then the agents supply the oxygen to keep them burning without any help from oxygen in the air, as is the case with normal combustion.
  Such fires may therefore break out and continue in confined spaces, e.g. inside cargo holds. And once started, they may be difficult to extinguish. Blanketing with powder or foam is useless, as the oxygen is already present in the agent underneath.

 

• Toxic & Infectious Substances:
  Toxics are chemical poisons that can damage the human body, in whole or in part. They must not be allowed to get inside the body, through swallowing, breathing in, or by absorption through the skin. Toxicity is mostly determined by tests on live animals.
  Infectious substances: These goods contain pathogens, i.e. micro-organisms that cause infectious disease in humans or animals. They are graded for danger for transport into one of three groups, of which only the first two are considered dangerous for transport on infectious grounds.
  Category A: Capable of causing permanent disability, life threatening or fatal disease to humans or animals. These are assigned to UN 2814. Some examples being:
  • Ebola Virus
  • Hepatitis B Virus
  • Lassa Virus
  • Rabies Virus
  • Infectious substances which cause disease only in animals are assigned to UN 2900. Some examples are:
  • African Horse sickness virus
  • Foot & Mouth disease virus
  • Sheep-Pox virus
  • Vesicular stomatitis virus

 

• Radioactive: Radioactive materials are materials containing unstable atoms that change their structure spontaneously in a random fashion over a time period.
  As each atom changes it emits invisible radiation that may cause chemical or biological change-ionizing radiation. This can damage the human body in some way or other, depending on the type of radiation, and the duration of the exposure.

 

• Corrosives: These are highly reactive materials which produce positive chemical effects, resulting in changes in the affected materials.
  For this reason, corrosive are used extensively in industry to produce a wide range of transformations and effects.
• Other Substances and Articles: The classic example of this diversity is self-inflating life rafts, which include in the package:

• • A large, compressed gas cylinder, usually carbon dioxide, to inflate the raft and its canopy when it hits the water.
  • Various explosive flares, coloured smoke candles, etc, for attracting the attention of rescuing air and sea craft.
  • Flammable solid materials for heating food and providing warmth.
  • Fabric repair kits, containing flammable liquids as the base for adhesive solutions.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Cargo Transport:

Advantages:

• Speed: It allows you to reach any point in the world in just a few hours.
• Flexibility: Flexible schedules and dates that allow any merchandise to reach its destination quickly and efficiently.
• Loading capacity: Although cargo is more limited than in the case of maritime transport, freight aircraft allow the transfer of numerous goods of small, medium and large size.
• Innovation: The air sector is one of the biggest changes in recent years from its speed to its combustion.
• Borders: In the air transport there are not as many physical barriers or customs, as it happens with the rest of means of transport.
• Accessibility: The plane makes it possible to reach practically hidden places, where other means of transport are not able to reach.
• Cargo: It is the ideal way to transport perishable, fragile or high value merchandise.
• Security: It is the safest for the transportation of goods.
• Temperature: It is possible to ensure a specific temperature if necessary.

Disadvantages:

• High cost: It is significantly more expensive than other means of transport.
• Weather: Conditioned by the weather which can cause delays.
• Law: Legal restrictions that must be taken into account depending on the different countries of destination of the merchandise.
• Independence: Air transport must be complemented by land, train or truck. So, it does not count by itself as the only means of transport in commercial operations.
• Limited load: Although the charge is wide it is not infinite.
• Cargo: It does not allow to send all kinds of merchandise. Lithium batteries, liquid products such as fuels or oils, or hazardous materials, such as explosives, gases and other toxic substances, cannot be transported.
• Documentation: It is not exempt from paperwork. Declarations, certificates of origin etc., must be completed by the different agents that operate along the entire transport chain.

 

Tob 6 benefits of using iJET Charter for Cargo Charter:

• Urgent Air Cargo Charter
• Deliver your shipment directly to destinations where commercial airlines cannot go
• Take control of your Freight
• Team of experts helping you deliver your cargo on time
• Select the aircraft according to the amount and size of your cargo
• The best Cargo Charter

 

For successful cargo chartering experience, Partner up with iJET Charter, where our high qualified team will help you with the documentations, offer real-time tracking of your air cargo charter. Rely on us and you will never regret it!