CASE STUDY
Aircraft on Ground (AOG) Logistics
Aeronet Worldwide Helps Deliver Replacement Part to Chile for Fire-Fighting SuperTanker
In January 2017, the country of Chile was faced with the largest and deadliest wildfires in its history. There were over 70 active blazes, which at one point, incinerated more than 2,300 square miles of terrain, resulted in the deaths of 11 people, and caused at least $300 million worth of damages. As tragic as the ordeal was, the silver lining is that it could have been even worse, if not for the dedication of emergency responders. To that end, Aeronet can proudly say it played a small, but vital, part in helping put an end to the state of emergency.
- Aeronet provided logistics services to help aid emergency responders fight Chilean wildfires.
- A Boeing SuperTanker used to douse the flames was grounded, and in need of replacement parts to get it back in the air.
- Aeronet's critical service capabilities provided for the urgent delivery of the necessary parts.
In January 2017, the country of Chile was faced with the largest and deadliest wildfires in its history. There were over 70 active blazes, which at one point, incinerated more than 2,300 square miles of terrain, resulted in the deaths of 11 people, and caused at least $300 million worth of damages. As tragic as the ordeal was, the silver lining is that it could have been even worse, if not for the dedication of emergency responders. To that end, Aeronet can proudly say it played a small, but vital, part in helping put an end to the state of emergency.
The main tool used in putting out the blazes was The Spirit of John Muir, a Boeing 747 SuperTanker aircraft capable of delivering payload drops aggregating over 19,000 gallons of water, fire retardant, and suppressant. Manned by a 12-person crew, the B747-400 was able to release a payload that would have taken other aircrafts multiple attempts to achieve the same results.
The SuperTanker and its crew planned to make the journey to Chile all the way from Colorado Springs. However, there was a snag in the operation when the SuperTanker had to be grounded due to a maintenance issue. A replacement dump valve was needed before it could return to the skies. That is where Aeronet Los Angeles stepped in, when the client contacted us requesting the transport of a replacement dump valve from Arizona to Chile.
Aeronet arranged the delivery, and the part was shipped from Arizona to Chile in three days – a stunningly quick time compared to standard, non-emergency deliveries of that kind. Sure enough, the SuperTanker was back in the air, delivering much needed relief to the fire ravaged countryside of Chile.
One of Aeronet’s foremost capabilities is providing critical services during emergency operations. These capabilities include aircraft on ground (AOG) support for aircraft and aviation, such as the one undertaken on behalf of The Spirit of John Muir; white glove services, which takes into account the complexities of high-value cargo, and provides the specialized handling they require; and time-critical shipping for situations where the difference of a few hours can have a major impact.
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About Aeronet Worldwide:
Since 1982, Aeronet has been a family-owned company dedicated to providing the very best in global logistics solutions and freight services. With associates and partners connected to every major airport and seaport throughout the world, Aeronet is fully capable to handle your cargo and Make It Happen One Shipment at a Time®.
