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c) The character of the goods - their perishability, value, comparative cost of insurance and the urgency with which they are required. d) The likelihood of theft, injury or accident to the goods owing to unsettled political and social conditions, bad roads or unreliable means of transportation. e) The impediments imposed by an archaic economic structure - provincial and national authorities with unpredictable customs, police and quarantine requirements. 5. Air cargo has rendered an important service to underdeveloped countries in opening up the exploitation of natural resources located within the interior of these countries. Supplies and materials can be landed at remote points to support survey teams, construction gangs, mining or oil digging and similar operations. This type of service diminishes in value once an infrastructure has been erected, but the volume of air cargo which continues to be hauled need not necessarily diminish since the character of the goods carried by air and by surface differs in value and density. Similarly, underdeveloped countries often produce goods with a sufficiently high value- to-weight ratio which can be flown out from the interior to the coast for shipment or can be flown directly to centres of population for consumption or further fabrication. The shipment by air of chicle and gold in Honduras to the coast, of karakul skins from Afghanistan to Beirut, of Persian rugs from Teheran to Beirut, of diamonds from the Congo and beef from the northern Cameroons and Chad to the urban centers in the south which lack proteins in their food supply, are all examples. The final stage of air cargo growth in underdeveloped countries will take place when the economies of those countries produce products of high value which will justify their transportation by air over long distances. To some extent such cargo is now moved on main trunk routes as part of the cargo of passenger airlines, but the volume may eventually reach a point where aircraft especially designed for cargo carriage will find sufficient business to justify their use. Return cargoes carrying instruments, watches, spare parts and other products of the technically developed countries are common but will increase with the rise in standard of living of the underdeveloped countries. 6. In the use of air cargo in underdeveloped countries speed is of secondary importance. The requirement is rather for aircraft of rugged and simple design and construction permitting easy maintenance; high lift and low speed aircraft are economic for this purpose and, best of all, they require short and inexpensive runways for landing and takeoff. It is also important that the aircraft be designed to permit quick loading and unloading. Low operating costs in air cargo planes are essential for the growth of this type of transport. Heretofore, the underdeveloped countries have utilized the discarded aircraft of the more advanced countries and the jalopies of the air are to be found engaged in the humble task of moving goods and supplies throughout the countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Many of them have finally been put out Z2461.2