Microlight Aircraft NZ to UK
Overview
In April 2019, HFS completed the import of a light aircraft that had flown from the UK to New Zealand in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the RAF. The 17,000-mile expedition – led by RAF Wing Commander Christopher Pote – saw the Eurofox LSA Microlight aircraft stop at 27 different locations, 25 of which had significant RAF connections.
Following the plane’s arrival in New Zealand in December 2018, Wing Cmdr. Pote contacted our New Zealand partner agent Jenners to arrange its shipment back to the UK. Our NZ operation, HGL, liaised with Jenners initially, with our UK team then overseeing the aircraft’s safe delivery to a small airfield near Maidstone, Kent.
Delivery
The aircraft’s folding wing system allowed it to be shipped in a 20ft container, but it needed to be loaded and unloaded at ground level to minimise any risk of damage. Both the collection and delivery sites were small airfields, neither of which had facilities to load and unload at normal container loading bay height. Specialised container-lift vehicles were therefore required to safely lift and lower the container.
Because container-lift drivers don’t carry bolt croppers, we had to ensure the aircraft’s owner had suitable equipment on hand when the container was eventually delivered to the unloading site in the UK. The vehicle also had a one-hour time limit for unloading; we gave the importer advance notice of this so they had an angle grinder to hand when the container arrived, saving them a potentially costly trip to the local DIY store.
What they said
Results
Due to port congestion at London Gateway, the vessel carrying the container was later diverted to Tilbury. However, with the ports being less than ten miles apart, it didn’t affect onward delivery of the aircraft, which was made within five days of arrival in the UK.
“The team at Hemisphere Freight could not have been more helpful,” said Wing Cmdr. Pote. “As a first time shipper with an unusual consignment, the initial deluge of paperwork was a little overwhelming, but Hemisphere guided me through the whole process and made the whole experience very smooth.”
