When You Need It There Now
Commercial air freight operates on fixed schedules, with fixed routes, and rigid handling procedures. When your shipment cannot wait for the next scheduled flight — when a production line is stopped, when a patient needs equipment, when a contract has a hard deadline — cargo charter is the solution.
Plane Selection arranges dedicated cargo flights on aircraft ranging from small turboprops to wide-body freighters. We source the right aircraft for your specific cargo dimensions, weight, and urgency, coordinate loading and unloading, manage customs documentation, and track your shipment from origin to destination. Our operations centre in Nice, France is staffed 24 hours a day to respond to urgent freight requests at any hour.
With over 20 years of aviation experience and established relationships with cargo operators across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, we deliver cargo solutions that commercial logistics simply cannot match for speed and flexibility.
Common Use Cases
Cargo charter serves a wide range of industries and scenarios. The common thread is urgency, sensitivity, or cargo dimensions that exceed what commercial services can handle:
Urgent Industrial Parts (AOG)
When an aircraft, vessel, or production line is grounded waiting for a replacement part, every hour of downtime costs thousands. Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) situations demand the fastest possible response. We arrange same-day cargo charters to deliver critical components from manufacturer warehouses to maintenance facilities anywhere in the world.
Medical Supplies and Pharmaceuticals
Temperature-sensitive medications, medical devices, organ transplant equipment, and emergency relief supplies require controlled environments and guaranteed delivery windows. Cargo charter provides dedicated, monitored transport with chain-of-custody documentation throughout.
Luxury and High-Value Goods
Fine art, jewellery collections, luxury vehicles, fashion samples, and auction lots require secure, insured, and often climate-controlled transport. Cargo charter eliminates the handling risks of commercial cargo and provides door-to-door security for irreplaceable items.
Film and Entertainment Equipment
Production schedules wait for no one. Camera rigs, lighting systems, set pieces, wardrobe, and production vehicles often need to move between locations on tight timelines. We arrange charter flights for film and television productions, concert tours, and major events, ensuring equipment arrives intact and on time.
Oversized and Heavy Cargo
Industrial machinery, energy sector equipment, marine components, and construction materials that exceed the dimensions or weight limits of scheduled cargo flights require dedicated solutions. We source aircraft with the right door dimensions, floor strength, and payload capacity for oversized loads.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
Certain chemicals, radioactive materials, and other dangerous goods require specialised handling, packaging, and documentation. Not all operators or aircraft are certified for HAZMAT transport. We identify compliant operators and manage the regulatory requirements for dangerous goods shipments.
Aircraft for Cargo Charter
Small Cargo (up to 1,500 kg)
Aircraft: Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft King Air, Citation CJ series
For urgent small packages and AOG parts. These aircraft access short runways and regional airports that larger freighters cannot reach. Typical response time: 2–4 hours.
Medium Cargo (1,500–10,000 kg)
Aircraft: ATR 72F, Fokker F50, Saab 340
Regional turboprop freighters with rear cargo doors and flat floors. Ideal for palletised shipments, automotive parts, and medical supply runs within a 2,000 km radius.
Large Cargo (10,000–50,000 kg)
Aircraft: Boeing 737F, Airbus A321F, Boeing 757F
Narrow-body freighters for substantial payloads on medium-range routes. Containerised loading, powered cargo systems, and intercontinental range for Europe to Middle East and Africa operations.
Heavy/Oversized Cargo (50,000+ kg)
Aircraft: Boeing 747F, Ilyushin Il-76, Antonov An-124
Wide-body and outsize freighters for the largest and heaviest cargo. The An-124 can carry up to 120 tonnes with a drive-on ramp for vehicles and machinery. For the most extreme loads, we can source the An-225 successor or multi-aircraft solutions.
Helicopter Sling Load
Aircraft: Mi-8/17, AS332 Super Puma, CH-47 Chinook
When cargo needs to reach locations with no runway — offshore platforms, mountain construction sites, remote installations — helicopter sling operations deliver payloads of up to 10 tonnes to virtually any location.
Combi (Passengers + Cargo)
Aircraft: Various configurations
Some missions require both cargo and personnel to travel together — engineering teams with their equipment, medical teams with supplies, or security details with sensitive materials. We arrange combi configurations that accommodate both.
Dangerous Goods Handling
Transporting hazardous materials by air is governed by strict international regulations (ICAO Technical Instructions, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations). Plane Selection works with certified operators and trained handling agents to ensure full compliance:
- Classification and packaging verification per UN/IATA standards
- Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods preparation and review
- Operator capability verification (not all AOC holders are authorised for DG)
- Crew notification and emergency procedure briefing
- Airport acceptance checks and ground handling coordination
- Full documentation trail for regulatory audit compliance
We handle all nine classes of dangerous goods, including explosives, gases, flammable liquids, radioactive materials, and corrosives. Each shipment is assessed individually to ensure the right aircraft, packaging, and procedures are in place.
Customs and Documentation
International cargo movements require meticulous documentation. Our logistics team prepares and manages all customs formalities to prevent delays at origin, transit, and destination:
- Commercial invoices and packing lists
- Airway bills (AWB) and cargo manifests
- Certificates of origin where required
- Import/export licences for controlled goods
- ATA Carnets for temporary imports (trade shows, exhibitions)
- Phytosanitary and veterinary certificates for biological cargo
- CITES permits for protected species specimens
End-to-End Logistics
A cargo charter is only as good as the ground handling that supports it. Plane Selection coordinates the full logistics chain — not just the flight:
- Collection: Ground transport from your warehouse or facility to the departure airport
- Loading: Professional cargo handling with appropriate equipment (forklifts, cranes, roller systems)
- In transit: Real-time flight tracking and status updates
- Unloading: Supervised discharge at destination with damage inspection
- Delivery: Last-mile transport from airport to final destination
Request a Cargo Charter Quote
To provide an accurate cargo charter quote, we need the following information:
- Cargo description, dimensions (L x W x H), and weight
- Origin and destination (city or airport code)
- Required delivery date and time
- Any special handling requirements (temperature control, HAZMAT, fragile)
- Customs status (bonded, free circulation, temporary import)
Send us these details and we will respond with aircraft options and pricing within one hour — or within minutes for time-critical AOG situations.
