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LESSONS IN AIR CARGO FROM THE UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES

by E.R. Marlin, Director of Technical Assistance 
International Civil Aviation Organization 



1. Normally the carriage of cargo by surface vehicles is far more economical than by air. This applies to all countries whether developed or underdeveloped. However, there are certain conditions in underdeveloped countries which make the transport of air cargo economical and even essential. 
2. Underdeveloped countries are characterized by difficult terrain - extensive mountain ranges, deserts, swamps or widely scattered islands. They are also characterized by climatic extremes of heat and cold, humidity and torrential rains. Except in countries for which the sea provides a natural artery for the transportation, the building of a surface transportation infrastructure under difficult topographical and climatic conditions is costly, time consuming and technically difficult, and in some cases extremely expensive in maintenance.
3. From the economic point of view the construction of roads and railroads in underdeveloped countries often faces a number of negative factors. Centers of population are few and widely scattered, particularly in Africa. The volume of cargo originated or destined to these centers is small and, for the time being, hardly justifies he high cost of good roads and railroads. When river transport is available it is unreliable during the dry season when the water level declines; in any case, river transport involves a number of load transfers - from ocean vessel to river to railroad to road with resulting high costs, damage, and loss of time. Another difficulty sometimes encountered is the difference in railway gauges even in the same country. Roads suffer from lack of hard surfaces and bridges and river fords cannot be traversed during the rainy season and ferries are not always available. The maintenance of road vehicles under these conditions is extremely costly. Surface transport development therefore faces a dilemma: the high cost of construction of roads and railroads cannot be justified by the small number of passengers and low volume of freight but at the same time economic development cannot take place without the means to move people and produce. 
4. In these conditions, air cargo may be the only means of moving goods or supplies, at least in the beginning of the country’s development. While roads and railroads are being built air cargo will be, at least temporarily, a more economic means of transport or it may remain more economic for an indefinite period. The question fo whether air cargo can compete with surface transport will be determined by one or more of the following elements:

a) The relative cost of moving goods by air and by surface.

b) The comparative time required to move goods by air and by surface.



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