b'22American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(EXPERTISEcontinued from page 12)adapt to them quickly.He said that there has been a huge swing in trends: Theres these trends, we go from reciprocity revenue to reciprocity restriction, back and forth, revenue restriction, reciprocity. And I think what we are seeing with the cur-rent environment is a mix of all three.He added, The tariffs are put out there It is going to be 100%, 75%, whatever the total may be.And there the trade is sort of caught in the middle, and they have got to adapt. And the real challenge is finding that spot where you can. Theres very little middle ground, frankly. But a lot of what you have to do now is become much more flexible, much, much more willing to move quickly to take advantage of a reduction where in fact, you may find it. And that is not easy.The challenge needs to be met by investing in legal and regulatory expertise and working through industry associations:Ithinkyoureallyhavetoengagecare-fully. You have to find the kind of folks who can give you the right advice. A licensed customs broker, for starters. Because as I indicated, when you are looking at the sorts of tariff situations or restructuring transactions, you have Northern Air Cargo Cargo service agents loading plane to do it right, because the Customs scrutiny in this regard is increasing daily.(DIFFERENTcontinued from page 20) in oil drilling activity on the North Slope and NAC isAt Venable, DiNucci said, Weve got a lot of cliets. reached from Seattle in 18 hours. That compares with 24flying vehicles and geotechnical drilling rigs into Dead- ClientsarelookingatauditsbecauseCustomsisnow to 36 hours previously, depending on the combination ofhorse, AlaskawheretheTrans-AlaskaPipelineSystemlooking deeply at in terms of how revenue is being pro-transit modes used. starts. Were very excited about that because Alaska is atected. So, they are looking there. Youve got to really resource extraction heavy state, just what we handle. take a good hard look at that. There are entities out there S outhboundF reight that offer the legal advice. And Im not theres no pitch The route is a boon for Alaska businesses shippinga irF reightS ervice : a LaSKanS Fora LaSKanS for the firm. You just need to find, as an operator, that fresh products southbound to Pacific Northwest markets,The NAC official says the airline would like to add newkind of advice to make sure that the adjustments youre NAC officials contend.freighter aircraft to its fleet, likely more 737s. They have pay- making are going to be compliant. Because what youre Plus,airshippingisswifterandsimplifiedwithloads up to 46 million pounds, are reliable and plentiful in theseeing now, I think with Customs as they are coming out NACs direct route, airline officials claim. One airwaybillmarketplace, says Garcia. But no acquisition decisions haveon the revenue issues, they are looking to enforce, and a covers the Seattle to rural Alaska flight, no prior accountbeen made. Still, we are also keeping our eyes open if therelot of the informed compliance that I think was in the past is needed to get started and customers will always reachis a new aircraft in the market, he adds.is in the past now. Youre seeing a lot more compliance a real person and not a call center, promises an NACMeanwhile,NorthernAirCargoconcentratesonefforts. I think youll see a great deal more of that as com-spokeswoman, who adds that NAC also has its own colddevelopinganddeepeningrelationshipswithshipperspanies try to adjust. And so, the future I think demands, chain preservation system for perishables and medicines. and forwarders and it has paid dividends in long-termone is knowledge. The Seattle to rural Alaska freight moves on NACspartnerships, airline officials say. Several of NACs cus- Two,findtherightpeoplethatcangiveyouthat Boeing 737-800 freighter. The all-cargo airline currentlytomers contacted by AJOT agree. knowledge. If you do not have it, do not make assump-operates five 737 freighters that includes a mix of 737sThey make you feel like family when youre work- tions about what Customs may or may not do. Find out. series 300 and 400s. Last year, NAC teamed up with itsing with them and weve worked with them 30 years,Establish those relationships not just with the experts like sister company, Ryan Air, on shipments to rural villagessays AaronBurmeister,CEOandgeneralmanagerofbrokers and consultants And if you are not involved in its network.TumetIndustries,alargeconstructioncompanythatin associations, you should get involved in associations Not surprisingly, most of Northern Air Cargos 250builds and rebuilds roads, highways, runways in Westernbecauseyourknowledgeiswhatisgoingtogetyou employeesarelong-timeornativeAlaskans.GideonAlaska. Over the years, weve used all the air freightthrough this. And again, I thinktherell be a time when Garcia, NACs vice president of cargo, has been withcarriers but the one we count on is usually Northern Air. this too shall pass, I guess is the way to put it. And I am the airline for nine years but has worked in the state forBornandraisedinAlaska,Burmeister,50,saysnot trying to be flippant, but you know, as I said, those 31 years. Im still a cheechako, kindawhenTyphoonMerbokhitWesterntrends, the trends of revenue restriction, reciprocity, it will new to Alaska compared to those whoAlaska in 2022 and damaged homescome and it will go. You have to be flexible. But youve have lived here their whole lives. heandinfrastructuresin21remotevil- got to get the right advice because if you put the wrong tells the American Journal of Transpor- lagesandcommunities,Tumithiredfoot forward, Customs is going to be on it, and they have tation in an exclusive interview. NAC jet freighters and extra flights tobeen on it. We are working with a lot of clients that are fly in oversized materials for projects,having challenges with Customs in that regard. F LyingF reight ina LaSKa iS heavy parts for equipment and rebuild-d iFFerent ing. Alsohiredwereturboproppart- i Sc uStomSc haLLenged byb iggerm exicanv oLumeS ?Garcia says NAC has five 737 jetners Ryan Air and Bering Air to makeOnanothersubject,DiNucciwasaskedwhether freighters with payloads ranging fromdeliveries to smaller airports at or neartheincreasedvolumeofgoodslegal andillegal being 26,000 to 47,000 pounds depending onthe sites. Says the Tumit CEO, NACsunloaded at Mexican ports and being trucked across the runway conditions in rural Alaska. slogan is Teamwork That Delivers. US border in Texas, Arizona and California was challeng-NorthernAirCargoandAlas- Oil and gas rich North Slope Bor- ing the ability of US Customs to respond.kan Air Cargo fly similar jet freightersough,thenorthernmostboroughinDiNucci said, US Customs was up to the challenge: within the state, but NAC has stakedthe US, covering 94,000 square miles,All the assets that Customs has been deploying for the outitsownniche,saysGarcia.Wehas no paved roads, only ice gravellast 25 to 30 years in the non-intrusive inspection arena, specializeinoversizedequipment roads and the harshest conditions andtruck X rays, personal vehicle X ray equipment has all lumber, building materials, dangerousGideon Garcia, NACs VP of cargo climates you will find in the world,been exponentially increased in terms of its efficiency and goods, hazmat materials, explosives, chemicals - thingsDavidFauske,itsdeputydirectorofgovernmentandits accuracy. Thats all deployed. The officer expertise is that are necessary for industry across Alaska. We handleexternalaffairs,basedinUtqiagvik,formerlyBarrow,there, that targeting is done on a regular basis. In terms of them calmly, coolly, professionally, he maintains. told the AJOT in an interview. the personnel, again, they are out there focused on this. I What makes the state of Alaska different from Amer- Northern Air Cargo and Alaska Air Cargo vie forsee it down here in San Diego. I live not too far from Otay icas other 49 states is that it technically has 242 air- oversizefreightrangingfromvehicles,constructionMesa Port of Entry. And I have a lot of good relationships ports, explains Garcia, but NAC only flies into a fractionequipment and components, power generators to delicatedown there. And you know, its a daily work that seizures of them 19 that are paved and long enough to accom- and time sensitive freight including groceries and pro- are occurringTexas is as well, but the assets are there.modate a jet.Currently we have scheduled service induce. The biggest or oddly shaped shipments tend to and out of nine of what the FAA calls Part 139 airports,go to NAC, says Fauske. He said the North Slope Bor-he adds. NAC also serves the Red Dog Mine which has aoughs best search and rescue helicopter was grounded(WINScontinued from page 16)private runway that meets FAA standards, he notes. earlier this year when a long and frail helicopter blademonitoring. Telematics & IoT (Internet of Things) provide A major customer of Northern Air Cargoof whichwas damaged. NAC flew in a replacement. real-time data on vehicle location, fuel consumption, driver it is also a co-sponsoris the annual Iditarod Trail SledAccording to Fauske, Northern Air Cargo and Ryanbehavior, and cargo conditions, enabling proactive deci-Dog Race, a brutally tough up to 998-mile mush fromAir are two of the most loved and beloved companiession-making and operational efficiency, predictive main-Anchorage to Nome in often sub-zero temperatures andup here. And NAC is a great company run by Alaskanstenance,loadbalancing,andenhancingsafetyfeatures, blinding white-out conditions. Each sled is pulled by 12for Alaskans. including collision avoidance and driver monitoring.to16 Alaskan and Siberian Huskies. Says Garcia, The race can take eight to 15-days, and we fly all sorts oft hed iFFerence g oingb igr equireSi nnovation andc oLLaborationcargo for it including the dogs and the sleds. We help shipThe business of air cargo in the Lower 48 is precise,Heavy haul shipments are some of the most com-the burled wooden arch for the finish line which is like aregulated, disciplined where freight usually rides in pas- plex loads to move, said a representative of Anderson 25-foot-long piece of wood. NAC flies outsize materialssenger-jet bellies or in cargo planes, except where giantTrucking Service (ATS). Most will require permitting for other dog sled races in the state as well, he says. retailers own and operate scheduled freighters that takeandrouteplanning,aspecializedtrailer,aheavy-haul Asked if NAC sliced into Alaska Air Cargos marketoff and land on manicured runways.truck, an experienced driver, and a thorough plan for safe when it launched its Seattle to Anchorage non-stop flight,But in Alaska, near the top of the world, jet, turboloading, transport, and unloading.Garcia said no. Were providing a service they dont inand single prop pilots with loads of guts and decades ofWith many stakeholders, the OS/OW transportation the oversize market.However, he contends NACs newexperience, throttle forward full or chartered freightersmarket is preparing for a busy 2026 by advocating for Seattle to Anchorage nonstop route can also put normaloften on short strips of gravel and snow in fierce weatherregulations that are more aligned with this type of trans-freight into a container or unit load device (ULD).that makes the heart pound. Simply put, flying freight inport, working to serve specialized industries, and adopt-Most recently, Garcia says there has been an increaseAlaska is different. ing technologies to improve efficiency.'