When medical cargo can’t be transported via ground transportation due to location or time factors, air transportation becomes a viable option to efficiently complete any non-emergent or emergent transport. Private and commercial aircraft are used in medical transportation and in many of the trips we coordinate here at Medi-Ops. As in every medical transportation situation, certain transportation methods are better than others depending on the situation, product, location, and other factors. While Medi-Ops conducts both ground and air transportation, sometimes a ground transportation option just won’t cut it in extremely time-sensitive and long-distance transports. Air transportation is a great option for moving cargo, whether on a commercial or private flight. With the decision to utilize air transport, there are some key differences between private charter aircraft and commercial aircraft to consider.
One of the biggest differences to take into account when evaluating whether to use charter or commercial aircraft is turnaround time. You’ve probably utilized commercial airlines for personal transportation. Depending on whether you are a two-hour early person when it comes to traveling on an airplane or if you get there with just enough time to get through security, time planning is important to consider. This is no different from cargo transportation operations on commercial aircraft. When utilizing this service, there are deadlines to consider. Cargo must arrive at the airport one hour before the flight and has a one-hour recovery time at the destination. Commercial aircraft operators also have cargo stations with fluctuating operation hours that can hinder transportation quality for time-sensitive cargo.
Private aircraft charters are much more flexible with time constraints since they have access to smaller airports and can provide immediate recovery. Smaller airports allow for a faster pick-up, drop-off, and turnaround time. Sometimes there are products being transported that have extremely small shelf lives or specific, time-related travel needs. In these cases, using a private aircraft might be a better option to ensure the product’s quality and that it arrives at its destination in a timely manner. All in all, private aircraft charter flights are faster and can be more time-effective than commercial flights.
Looking at the numbers, there are around 12,039 private flights conducted per day. In addition the that sky-high (literally) number, there are 14,551 private airports around the United States compared to the 5,082 public airports. Looking at airports alone, the significantly higher number of private airports allows for an incredible number of options in location for transport and the ability to get products as close as possible to different locations. Turning to commercial flights, around 25,000 flights per day are operated by commercial airlines. This is a significant number of flight options, locations, and times. Clearly, commercial flight options can still be an incredible way to transport cargo and medical products if times, locations, and flights line up well.
So with all of this information, what kind of flight is best for each cargo transportation situation? When it comes down to it, time is the biggest factor here. If cargo is time-critical, like biotechnology products or emergency blood or organ transportation, a charter flight can save time and doesn’t require relying on commercial airlines. This is the highest level of reliability and security you can find in air transportation. Commercial airlines are still a valuable option to have when transports aren’t quite as time-sensitive. Medi-Ops’ next flight out (NFO) services as well as on-board courier services continue to ensure the safety of cargo throughout transport when utilizing commercial flights.
Biotechnology companies can now look to charter flights as a viable option for transportation since these products often require specific transportation procedures and have short shelf lives. The radiopharmaceutical industry is rapidly growing and often requires immediate transportation as these products have extremely specific transportation requirements in addition to specific time windows. Most often, these products aren’t allowed on commercial flights, creating a great opportunity to utilize charter flights instead. The extra level of efficiency, safety, and security provided by charter flights makes them perfect for these types of transport situations.
Medi-Ops has a large network of both commercial and private charter operators, providing an extensive web of flight options. Whatever the situation and cargo conditions, medical transportation has never been easier or faster than when utilizing our services. The specific routing technology provided through our software also allows clients to not only select the most appropriate form of transportation for their cargo but also track the product and see where it is and when it arrives in real-time. Our 24/7 dispatch center is also always available to guide clients through selecting the optimal mode of transportation for their cargo and scheduling those orders. Private and commercial flights have provided incredible strides in medical transportation. Those innovations and the security and reliability of Medi-Ops create industry-leading security and reliability for every transport.