Derivative Air Freighters Are Winners

Derivative air freighters that capitalize on technological advances incorporated in their passenger aircraft baselines will provide for the growth in commercial air cargo lift capacity required for the remainder of the century. With new fuel-efficient engines and other design advances, cash operating cost reductions of up to 40 percent will counter pressures fostered by increasing fuel prices and other adversities. Analytical data from recent air cargo surveys reaffirm the compatibility of present-day air cargo and container load characteristics with derivative freighter loaded-density capabilities. The nonrevenue-producing tare densities of containers, however, remain excessive in accounting for up to 25 percent of gross loaded densities. This results in added fuel-burn, added cost, and possible, displacement of revenue-producing cargo, and must be accounted for in establishing tariffs.