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Load planning processes to enhance cargo compartment utilization

Load planning processes to enhance cargo compartment utilization The United States Air Force often provides effective airlift for cargo distribution, but is at times inefficient. This paper aims to address the under-utilization of military airlift cargo compartments that plagues the airlift system.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine seven techniques designed to increase cargo compartment utilization and increase airlift utilization rates. The techniques were applied through load planning software to 30 real-world movements consisting of 159 sorties. They then ran each post-technique movement through a modeled flight environment to obtain cycle movement data. The metrics gained from both the load planning software and the modeled environment were regressed to provide statistical understanding regarding how well each technique influenced cost savings.FindingsThe results showed a 24 per cent elimination of aircraft required and a savings of $14.5m. Extrapolation of the authors’ findings to four years of airlift mission data revealed an estimated annual savings of $1.6bn.Originality/valueThis research effort provides multiple options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military airlift. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Defense Analytics and Logistics Emerald Publishing

Load planning processes to enhance cargo compartment utilization

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© In accordance with section 105 of the US Copyright Act, this work has been produced by a US government employee and shall be considered a public domain work, as copyright protection is not available.
ISSN
2399-6439
DOI
10.1108/jdal-07-2017-0011
Publisher site
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Abstract

The United States Air Force often provides effective airlift for cargo distribution, but is at times inefficient. This paper aims to address the under-utilization of military airlift cargo compartments that plagues the airlift system.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine seven techniques designed to increase cargo compartment utilization and increase airlift utilization rates. The techniques were applied through load planning software to 30 real-world movements consisting of 159 sorties. They then ran each post-technique movement through a modeled flight environment to obtain cycle movement data. The metrics gained from both the load planning software and the modeled environment were regressed to provide statistical understanding regarding how well each technique influenced cost savings.FindingsThe results showed a 24 per cent elimination of aircraft required and a savings of $14.5m. Extrapolation of the authors’ findings to four years of airlift mission data revealed an estimated annual savings of $1.6bn.Originality/valueThis research effort provides multiple options to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military airlift.

Journal

Journal of Defense Analytics and Logistics – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jun 11, 2018

Keywords: Aircraft loading; Aircraft optimization; Airlift utilization; Compartment packing; Load planning

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