Comparative Analysis of Air Cargo and Surface Cargo Systems Report

This report provides a comparative analysis of air cargo and surface cargo systems, focusing on their components, operations, and the process of intermodal transportation. It highlights the significance of air cargo hubs and the components involved in air transport, such as airports, ATC systems, and airlines. The report also discusses the various types of surface cargo systems and their role in supply chain solutions. Furthermore, it explores the integration of air and surface cargo systems through intermodal operations, using aircraft and trucks as examples, and emphasizes the importance of these systems in global cargo transport. The report references several sources to support its findings, including studies on air cargo terminal classification, the air cargo industry, and intermodal operations.

Running Head: AIR CARGO MANAGEMENT
AIR CARGO MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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The difference of the two types or the modes of the Cargo Systems based on their domain
of deliverance. It is a vital factor as the systems are used in to provide security and engages on
different forces of nature. The airborne Cargo Systems are needed much protection as the
systems works on the air, high above the ground (Rodbundith, Suthiwartnarueput &
Pornchaiwiseskul, 2019). Therefore, the components used for the manufacturing of the Air
Cargo Systems is very different from the components that are used for the manufacturing of the
Surface Cargo Systems.
Air Cargo Systems:
There are a lot of Air Cargo hubs in the world special with the first world countries. This
has been an important factor as the identification of the smooth functioning of the various
manufacturing companies across the world determines the efficient engineering of the
component parts resulting into the production of the good Cargo Systems (Merkert & Alexander,
2018). The Air Cargo Systems focuses on the development of the for the Air Cargo Industry to
build up the following certain areas like-
 Security of the Cargo Aviation Compliance to both the national and the
international standards and backgrounds as well.
 The increasing of the operational efficiency is also an important factor in almost
all Cargo areas-through business process building and re-engineering that as well.
 The maximization of the potential is one of the important factors that is based on
the one time data capture.
 The improvement of the document management is also a vital factor (Kupfer, et
al., 2017).

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The Surface Cargo Systems is a vital section that brings in the innovations and also
highlights on the transportation of the various goods and the products that can be delivered by
the land routes. The surface transportation works by the medium of the enhancement of the
various modes of applying leverage to the goods and generating values for the shipping of the
various products.
Types of Air Cargo Systems:
There are several factors and areas under which the Air Cargo Systems works on and helps in the
establishment of the business modules as well, to generate business across the world. Certain
important services that is provided by the Air Cargo Industry are-
 Aircraft,
 Aircraft roller and locking systems,
 Terminals,
 Ground handling equipment,
 Personnel, documentation, and
 Regulation.
These factors serve as important components related to the Air Cargo that are mainly shipped
and transported across the world. There are other modes of transportation that are also
maintained by various Cargo transportation and Logistics companies across the world for
shipping other materials and components. Some of the important factors that must be highlighted
are- Air Transport, Motor Freight, Water Transportation and Railroad or Rail. Among these the
Air Transportation is a vital means of transportation as it is the fastest means of deliverance.

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Surface Cargo System:
There are different types of Surface Cargo Systems that provide their efficient service
worldwide. The RCPL Surface Cargo Transporters provide Supply Chain Solutions across the
world. CPL one of the leading services of the world, that has excelled in the logistics
department. It has provided very high and reliable service, with efficient surface express cargo
services. The services at RCPL Express, through the mode of Hub and Spoke system. The
shipping takes place at different locations to the centrally situated hub (Vashist & Dey, 2016).
The cargo is divided under the amount of the spokes or the routes from where it is dispatched.
The surface network of the company supplies cargo Pan India. RCPL provides quite fast and
efficient services within a preferable range and the efficient and the express transport.
Air Cargo System Components and Surface Cargo System Components:
The air transport system is comprised of certain components like- airports, ATC (air
traffic control) system, and airlines. The airports are built for the accommodation of the various
airlines and various kinds of aircrafts. These are essentials as the components play a very
distinctive role regarding the service to the passengers and meeting the freight cargo demand
(Ramos, Utne & Mosleh, 2019).
The various means of transportation are taken into consideration as the shipment and
other processes that are linked with the services are linked to each other and processed
accordingly. Other factors than the cost and the urgency regarding the shipment is the value of
the various kinds of goods that are delivered. The size and the weight of the goods needs to be
developed and evaluated. The mode of transportation is also a vital factor that needs to be

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identified. The services are evaluated upon the basis of the nature and the kind of shipment that
the company is making.
Intermodal Operations:
Taking the medium of the Air Cargo System and the Surface cargo System as aircraft and
truck, the functioning of both the Systems are important factors. The process of Intermodal
involves the inclusion of two modes of the cargo systems. For example- the two modes of
freight, truck and railways, for the transportation of the goods from the shipper to the consumer.
(Dresner & Zou, 2016). The process usually starts with a normal container that is being shipped
by an Air Cargo System to a Surface Cargo System, for the completion of the task. In the mode
of Intermodal shipping there are 25 million containers that are transported and shipped all over
the world.

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References:
Rodbundith, T., Suthiwartnarueput, K., & Pornchaiwiseskul, P. (2019). A study of criteria for air
cargo terminal classification model. International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management,
33(4), 543-567.
Merkert, R., & Alexander, D. (2018). The air cargo industry. The Routledge Companion to Air
Transport Management, 29-47.
Kupfer, F., Meersman, H., Onghena, E., & Van de Voorde, E. (2017). The underlying drivers
and future development of air cargo. Journal of Air Transport Management, 61, 6-14.
Vashist, J. K., & Dey, A. K. (2016). Selection Criteria for a Mode of Surface Transport: An
Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach. Amity Global Business Review, 11.
Ramos, M. A., Utne, I. B., & Mosleh, A. (2019). Collision avoidance on maritime autonomous
surface ships: Operators’ tasks and human failure events. Safety science, 116, 33-44.
Dresner, M., & Zou, L. (2016). Air cargo and logistics. Air Transport Management: An
International Perspective, 247-264.