[Idea]Cargo System- Ground Freight to adjacent airport

[Mesquaki]

We have an idea/suggestion we wish to bounce to you regarding cargo packages.

Our group have charter routes in Africa and run from HK0A (Mara Serena) to HKNW (Wilson). We use either C208, 207, DC-3, and even also expand from HUEN to HKNW. We have a C130 at HKJK (Nairobi Jomo INTL) that has a cargo route to HTDA (Dar-Es-Salaam) or from HKJK to HTJK (Kilimanjaro). Today I flew the C130 from HKJK-->HTDA and the return carrying cargo while one of our pilots flew the HK0A-->HKNW route. He informed me he had picked up 4 packages from HK0A that was destined to HTDA and dropped them off at our VA Office in HKNW since he knew I was flying the HKJK-->HTDA route. However, got to thinking that HKNW is 6.8nm from HKJK and I cannot take off in the C130 from HKNW since the runways are too short. It did not seem practical to setup a flight to carry a few packages that distance just to have them get onto the C130. So we had an idea to bounce off you.

The premise is this. Since there is the short distance between the two locations (HKNW and HKJK), there could be an option once arriving at HKNW that we can unload the packages at our VA office there and then request a "ground freight* transfer of the packages to be transported over to HKJK. Including the following conditions...

1. there must be a VA office at both locations for the "transport" to happen, or warehouse at one or both.
2. there would be a transaction fee for said transport and a "calculated time" packages would arrive to the other office.
3. radial distance not to exceed 7-10nm.
4. can restrict the number of packages per "transport" request by number of packages or weight or both.
5. we are not sure if any other VA's have asked/encountered similar circumstances and most may not even use this feature idea, but if it was possible then it could be a premium feature (one that I would gladly subscribe and use).

This would open the door to some extra possibilities for us in how we do our flights and routes. For example, using the DC-3, I can be at HUEN and do a split haul- half packages to HKNW, half packages to HTDA, fly to HKNW and have the packages for HTDA ground freight to my VA office or warehouse at HKJK where I can then load onto my C130 and continue on. Sometimes I do not have a full load going to HKNW but I do see I can top up with packages going to HTDA or HTJK and I can drop at HKNW and have transported to HKJK for the C130 routes.

As I said, it was a brainstorm idea our group had today and it was something that really fit with how we operate. However, I do realize coding and adding features may not work or cause something to break, and it certainly will not disappoint us if it is something that cannot happen. We just wanted to ask, otherwise we would never know right?

If you have any questions or clarification needed, let me know how I can help.

Regards, Mike

[joefremont]

I have though about doing something along these lines. Moving packages from close by airports into a warehouse/center but one issue is how to handle the costs, going out from an airport after the flight arrives, the flight that arrived can be charged for the delivery which effects the pilot pay. How do we insure the pay the pilot gets from the flight, which is based on flight profit includes the fees needed to ship the package to the warehouse in the departure airport

[Mesquaki]

Does the flight that arrived have to be charged for the delivery fees? Can the fees for ground freight packages not come directly from the VA itself and not affect pilot?

Pilot A flew the flight and lands at destination A and has packages bound for destination C that is on Pilot B's route. However to get them to Pilot B, they need to be freighted over to destination B within the radius specified. So Pilot A releases (delivers) packages at destination A. Office person H manages operations (financial, cargo, etc) is notified there were packages delivered at A that are destined for C and would put in the request to have packages shipped to destination B. So at that point I would think the VA itself is covering the costs of freight (shipping).

[joefremont]

I am always wary of ways that pilots can game the system. If they can have packages moved at VA expense and then not have it impact the profit on their flight, which is how their pay is based, it seams like an issue. Right now final delivery fees are deducted from the package profit and then the profit from the package is distributed amongst all the flights that transported it. Besides not having it included you would not get a true picture of the flights profitability.

If we were to do this we would probably have to create some transaction for the initial moving of the package from the initial airport into the warehouse, that would then disappear when the cost is rolled into the flight revenue.

[Mesquaki]

I see your point, and did not consider the idea of trying to game the system. I agree with the transaction idea for the initial moving of said package- I assume that would begin with Pilot A that first loaded said package to fly to destination A to be freighted over?

Also, cost for freight. Would it be feasible to charge per pound? Do we restrict the number of packages being freighted? Restrict size of packages (i.e. 88lbs, 441lbs, 4409lbs) ?

As I mentioned, it was just an idea we were kicking about and I certainly do not wish to see a loophole created in the system.

[joefremont]

For delivery the fee for moving the package from the arrival airport is 0.02 * distance (nm) * size (kg) so the cost of moving to the departure airport would be the same, of course extended by the multiplier. One complexity would be could it be moved more than once? (Moving those packages from San Jose/KSJC to San Francisco/KSFO, oh BLEEP, we need them in Oakland/KOAK).

[Mesquaki]

That would be up to you if moving more than once is permitted. Or perhaps instead it can be moved again due to a mistake of sending to the wrong airport within the radius which would result in not just the delivery fee but an additional fee for the mistake. And you can still also have the "time frame" required to move it. For example- using my OP locations it is 6'ish nm from HKNW to HKJK. However, trucking it from KNW to KJK would probably take a couple hours. I would assume on top of fees there would be a time delay before packages are at location and can be selected. Same can be said on mistakes like what you mentioned.

Would prompt the VA office to be more attentive to details. In the logistics world, we'd be double checking everything anyways to ensure it was going to the correct place and producing paperwork. Going outside of that would mean a trip to the office to explain our blunder and hoping we not lose our job.