Critical part for an AOG situation needed for Australian Government rescue operation during COVID-19 pandemic

Challenge

A business jet operator needed an urgent part for an aircraft in an AOG situation, which was being used to assist the Australian Government rescue operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian Government was working together with a medical operator, the largest in Oceania, to carry out this critical mission.

The part, a transmitter bracket, had to be shipped from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia, and would be ready late in the afternoon. The ideal flight to meet the AOG requirement for the rescue operation was already closed for cargo bookings due to full cargo capacity.

Solution

Sterling's local team in Singapore contacted the airline locally to explain the urgent situation and convinced the airline to re-open the booking system to accommodate the urgent aircraft part on the desired flight.

Arrangements were made to recover the part upon arrival, which was outside of the normal recovery hours at the Melbourne airport terminal. In addition, the Sterling team cleared the part with customs before flight arrival, saving time on customs clearance.

• Communications were ongoing throughout transit, keeping all involved in the supply chain informed and in case alternate plans had to be made for the mission.
• The spare part arrived in Melbourne at 17:30 next day — in time for the aircraft repair and scheduled departure.
• End-to-end transit time from customer request — from Singapore to Melbourne — was just 30 hours and 15 minutes.
• The Australian Government, in coordination with the medical operator, was able to carry out its medical rescue operation on time and as planned.