Management of Air Cargo: Examining Delivery Challenges in Colombia

This case study examines the significant challenges faced in the management and delivery of air cargo in Colombia, where pilots navigate dangerous conditions using vintage aircraft to supply remote villages. The pilots contend with outdated equipment, unpredictable weather, loss of radio contact, and the perils of the Amazon rainforest, often relying on their experience and intuition for safe passage. Despite these challenges, local repair workshops and highly skilled pilots maintain operations, keeping the aging DC-3 aircraft functional. The study also highlights concerns about cargo agents overloading planes for profit and the risks associated with transporting dangerous goods like fuel, emphasizing the critical role of mechanics in ensuring safety. This assignment solution provides insights into the unique demands and operational strategies employed in the Colombian air cargo industry.

Management of Air Cargo:
Challenges of delivery air cargo:
Flying in Columbia is one of the most dangerous conditions to be in for the pilot given the death
of 200 pilots lost their life in the last 20 years. As is evident from the documentary of YouTube,
the air cargo pilot has to supply foods, vegetables and other essential things to the remote
villages in Colombia. The challenges faced by these pilot are immense and those are in the form
of vintage cargo that are operational from the past seventy years and is flying as if in the era of
1920-1930s with little or no technological advancement in the landing area. They had to fly
sometimes in a worst possible condition in the form of rain and storm. At times they lose their
radio contact from the ground and pilot has to depend on their skills, intuition and experience as
to find the route so as to reach those village. The other challenges are in the way of mechanical
fault that may occur in the age old cargo while travelling to those remote villages. Even more
dangerous challenges are the green belt of Amazon forest also famous as a green hell that has a
stretch of two hours and if the plane has to do emergency landing lack of space in these forest
puts these pilots in a more shaky state. Apart from these even if the pilot reaches the village area
landing on the right spot is determined by their skills or else mishaps are sure to happen. The
landing area and the run way are pitted with holes and are slippery the tact of balances of these
pilots ensures that they complete their journey safely.
Three turnaround activities:
If you compare the Colombian air operation with other commercial and modern airport there is a
gap of a ages in terms of facilities, modernization and technology. But there are activities that are
working for these Colombian airport and those are in the way of repairing workshop near the

airport strip which are working relentlessly to keep the vintage cargo back in the workable
condition. The pilot also manages to keep the plane in an operational condition while flying is by
deputing a mechanical staff whose job is to regularly observe the engine and the area of wiring in
the plane. By doing this they make sure that in case of engine cease or mechanical fault, these
mechanics are available to repair the damaged part. They also make sure that there is no short
circuit while the cargo is in flying state.
Secondly the highly trained pilot with their intuition, knowledge and experience are able to fly in
the worst condition possible. Not every pilot has the skills and ability to flew in such condition as
has been the pilot of Colombia given the multiple challenges they have to face and meticulously
plan for every trip they make.
Third the operation of the DC-3 is meant to be sustainable for such condition (Robbins, 2017)
and some of the plane is operational for more than seventy years. They are made workable or in
the operating condition by the batch of trained mechanics who work day and night even if the
power is lost in the workshop is a really commendable job done by them.
Worries of Captain:
The cargo agent has the responsibility of sending various vegetable, foods, grains and other stuff
to these remote locations through air cargo. Extra luggage or goods can make the operation more
vulnerable. In order to make more profit these cargo agents tend to put more luggage or goods on
the plane which makes the captain worried about the agent honesty.

Transporting dangerous goods like fuel:
The shipment of fuel can easily barbeque the passenger and the pilot of the plane if any
unfortunate incident occurs. The engine mechanic present on the plane makes sure that the fuel
container is away from the engine area so that they are safe from any short circuit or any spark.
Secondly the same person is responsible for ensuring that no gas is build up on one area which
can become dangerous when in any way gets in touch with the spark.

References:
Airline industry section (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2019, from
https://www.jobmonkey.com/airline/duties1/
The highs and lows being a pilot (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2019, from
https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2007/jan/29pilot.htm
Robbins, S.( 2017).Flying beyond a doubt: An epic DC-3 journey (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2019, from
https://airfactsjournal.com/2017/01/flying-beyond-doubt-epic-dc-3-journey/
Daredevil pilot of Columbia (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2019, from
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+dare+devil+pilots+of+columbia