Road transport is the most affordable option for shipping a helicopter. However, depending on the distance, it may take longer and put the aircraft at greater risk of damage if not handled by trained personnel.
The next most cost-effective option is shipping by sea, specifically by container ship. Customers pay a flat rate for a standard container instead of paying by the pound for air. However, when it comes to larger aircraft, the limits of a 40-foot container can prove difficult. In general, there is a lot of disassembly and assembly.
Today, container shipping is fraught with delays, regardless of cargo, resulting in higher costs for everyone. The time it takes to put the plane into its container, sail to the destination, unload the container, and clear customs could make shipping by container ship the most time-consuming option. There are other ways to transport goods by ocean besides using containers.
RORO shipping uses specially built vessels to carry wheeled cargo in a fully enclosed, temperature-controlled cargo dock; the service is more expensive than container shipping, but still more cost-effective than air shipping. The rotor blades are stored in containers under the helicopter’s tail boom while it is attached to a specialized MAFI trailer. Once the boat is ready, the trailers are rolled onto the deck and locked in place. At the destination, they can be thrown just as quickly. The aircraft does not require much disassembly due to this configuration.
Airlift is expensive, especially for larger and heavier helicopters. However, it also has the advantage of being the fastest, with delivery times of one or two days.
