Key Highlights

• Critical aerospace logistics mission: CharterDesk and Aero Cargo International (ACI) France successfully completed an urgent aircraft engine charter from Helsinki to Casablanca for Royal Air Maroc, delivering two oversized engines in less than 24 hours from shipment readiness.
• Rapid aircraft and equipment sourcing: CharterDesk secured a Boeing 777 Freighter, arranged flight permits and ground handling, and sourced specialised 20-foot main-deck pallets from Amsterdam after suitable equipment was unavailable in Helsinki.
• Complex logistics coordination: The operation required seamless collaboration between CharterDesk, ACI France, Royal Air Maroc, the aircraft operator, ULD supplier, road feeder service provider, ground handlers and aviation authorities.
• Supporting aircraft maintenance operations: The successful mission highlights the importance of flexible charter solutions for transporting oversized aerospace components where speed and precision are critical.
• Demonstrating specialist charter expertise: The project showcased how integrated planning and rapid decision-making can overcome operational challenges in time-sensitive air cargo movements.

CharterDesk and ACI France Deliver Time-Critical Aircraft Engine Charter for Royal Air Maroc

CharterDesk and Aero Cargo International (ACI) France, a subsidiary of ECS Group, have successfully completed a complex time-critical charter operation transporting two large aircraft engines from Helsinki, Finland, to Casablanca, Morocco, on behalf of Royal Air Maroc.

The urgent aerospace logistics mission required the engines to be delivered within an extremely tight timeframe, with the entire operation completed in less than 24 hours from the moment the shipment was ready for transport.

The project demonstrated the importance of rapid planning, specialist cargo expertise and close coordination between multiple logistics partners when handling oversized aviation components.

Rapid Charter Planning

Following a request from ACI France, CharterDesk immediately began identifying the most suitable aircraft capable of transporting the oversized aircraft engines.

Given the size and weight of the cargo, the shipment required loading onto the main deck of a wide-body freighter.

After evaluating available capacity, CharterDesk secured a Boeing 777 Freighter and quickly arranged the necessary flight permits and ground handling services to keep the project on schedule.

However, the operation soon encountered another challenge.

The specialised 20-foot main-deck pallets required to transport the engines were unavailable at Helsinki Airport.

Urgent ULD Solution

To prevent delays, CharterDesk rapidly sourced two PGA main-deck pallets through its ULD supplier in Amsterdam.

The pallets were immediately transported by road to Helsinki under emergency arrangements, arriving just in time for the aircraft loading operation.

Emir Ozdabak, Managing Director of CharterDesk, explained the logistical complexity of the project.

“When the charter request came in from Aero Cargo International France, it was immediately clear that aircraft engines of this size would require loading onto the main deck of a wide-body aircraft such as a Boeing 777F or Boeing 747F.”

“We soon secured a Boeing 777F, but then found that the required 20-foot pallets were not immediately available in Helsinki. We therefore quickly located two PGA pallets through our ULD supplier in Amsterdam and arranged emergency trucking to Helsinki, getting them there just in time to make the flight.”

Coordinated Weekend Operation

The success of the charter relied on close cooperation between all organisations involved throughout the operation.

CharterDesk worked alongside ACI France, acting on behalf of Royal Air Maroc, as well as the aircraft operator, ULD supplier, road feeder service provider, ground handling teams and aviation authorities to ensure every stage of the shipment progressed according to schedule.

The engines and the specialised pallets arrived simultaneously at Helsinki Airport on Friday afternoon, allowing the cargo to be built and prepared immediately before departure.

The charter flight departed as scheduled on the morning of 18 July, enabling the engines to reach Casablanca within the required timeframe.

Supporting Aerospace Supply Chains

Guillaume Tourneret, Managing Director of Aero Cargo International France, highlighted the importance of teamwork in delivering the critical shipment.

“The engines and the pallets both arrived at Helsinki Airport at the same time on Friday afternoon, which meant that the shipment could be built up right away, and our charter departed on schedule on the morning of 18 July. Thanks to CharterDesk, we were able to have the engines delivered to Royal Air Maroc in less than 24 hours from the moment both were ready for shipment in Helsinki.”

“It was great teamwork that enabled a truly smooth operation under serious pressure. Thank you to everyone involved for the excellent cooperation.”

The successful mission underscores the growing importance of specialist air charter providers in supporting aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations, where rapid transportation of critical components can minimise aircraft downtime and maintain fleet availability.

As global aerospace supply chains continue to demand faster and more flexible logistics solutions, close collaboration between charter operators, airlines, ground handlers and equipment providers remains essential for executing complex, time-sensitive cargo movements.