When we received the briefing from Habock Aviation outlining the disaster relief support needed in Spain, three points were highlighted as critical-to-quality and non-negotiable aspects of the project:
Delicate cargoTransporting helicopters requires very specialized packing to ensure their operational integrity in emergency use.
Every hour countsDelivering helicopters within a specific timeline is needed to avoid any loss of productivity by the client on either end of the journey.
Trust and transparencyComing from negative past experiences, our client required recurrent and transparent communication throughout the process. This would be a critical aspect of building trust and rapport.
Climate change, a continuous increase in temperatures, and erratic nature of weather patterns has had a direct effect on the ever-increasing number of fires in forests and natural spaces around the world. This increase in out-of-control fires requires expedited support from companies specializing in disaster relief and emergency management.
That is the case with Habock Aviation, a company based in Spain and owned by Holding Eliance Group. Habock Aviation is dedicated to supplying helicopters, parts, and equipment all over the globe, including equipment and solutions for fire mitigation, disaster relief, and medical emergencies for private use.
Supporting the forest firefighting campaign in Spain during the summer months of 2022, Habock Aviation asked Vector to design a logistics plan to ensure on-time delivery of three helicopters that needed to be shipped from Chile to Spain. This helicopter transport is an annual event coinciding with the end of summer in the southern hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. Every April, the fleet departs from Chile to Spain, and returns to Chile every October in time for disaster relief during the warm months.
If I had to highlight the most important aspect of this first shipment with Vector, it is their customer focus and availability. These factors maximized the success of the project from scratch. Fast-response, client-centric, and attention to detail. The way Vector approached the challenge gave us peace of mind, something that is priceless for us. We loved the way they work and will continue to ship with them.
Even though Habock Aviation in Spain has a considerable fleet, they sometimes fall short whenever demand for their services scales quickly. An excellent example of this is when there are massive forest fires.
When it comes to firefighting and disaster relief, every helicopter counts and can mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, firefighters rely on aerial support to help them protect humans, animals, and vegetation.
These incredible demands are why it’s paramount that the fleet is transported back and forth between Chile and Spain without delay.
Habock contacted our team at Vector when they needed a faster-than-expected delivery.
Companies like Habock rely heavily on having access to their fleet for a variety of needs. Deadlines have to be maintained so that all operations work smoothly and the overarching business model is kept healthy. Anytime a shift in these systems is requested, many risk factors must be addressed to ensure the backbone of daily operations remains uninterrupted.
Helicopters are expensive and delicate pieces of machinery. When governments rely on this equipment for disaster relief, it needs to be continuously operational. Great care must be taken, so the pilots and operators are safe while they perform their duties.
It is possible to ship helicopters from Chile to Europe in under 96 hours, but the expense is often staggeringly cost-prohibitive. That is why our team at Vector and the team at Habock agreed to go with sea transportation. The goal was to get the helicopters to Spain before the 35th day after the ship departed port. Another detail that affected this project was the summer season beginning in Spain and an expected heat wave that would affect the population. Since these helicopters would be used for disaster relief and medical needs, the demand for on-time delivery was crucial.
Habock has three different models of helicopters, and each one of them has a special shipping process. Some of them need more parts, compared to the standard model, which requires dismantling. Also, many elements must receive a special coating to prevent corrosion during shipping time.
It takes approximately three to four days to properly disassemble a helicopter and the same timespan to put them back together.
As an extra step, the helicopters receive specific aerial maintenance service in a special Chilean facility before departure to make sure they are ready for their firefighting duty on arrival.
Many factors were taken into account and precautions made so that the helicopters arrived in firefighting shape.
Despite the modified timeline and unique nature of the project, it was a success. Habock Aviation’s professionalism and mission make Vector proud to work with companies that contribute to improving the world.
Thanks to the dedication of our team, the client has offered us the opportunity to send five more helicopters, and we have gained a long-term and value-aligned partner.
These Habock Aviation helicopters that travel between Spain and Chile seasonally will continue to support both countries’ fight against climate change and deforestation—and we will be there when they need us.
We thrive on helping our clients translate complex and often hectic logistic challenges into simplified solutions. Experience what reliable logistics can do for your business.
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