Due to the growth of deferred express services and increasing focus on cost control in recent years, the integrated carriers are expanding their ground networks, which could entail the construction of additional surface hub or "cross-dock" facilities at strategic locations throughout the U.S. In other words, the biggest change in air cargo at airports will be increased trucking activity.
The biggest change in air cargo will be increased trucking activity requiring expanded planning parameters and more integration of the activity on airports.
Increased truck activity will require buildings that are much larger than would be indicated by typical planning parameters and activity records of an airport. Buildings that accommodate cross-dock activities tend to be wider to meet internal operational requirements of the carrier. Clearly, trucking will have to become more integrated within the overall air cargo activity at an airport. As such, there must be adequate area on the landside to accommodate large volumes of truck traffic and, maybe more importantly, truck storage area. Where possible, it is recommended that the distance from the building face to building face on the landside be increased from 200 to 400 feet. The additional 200 feet would provide an area to store trucks when not in use.
A cargo operation with a large truck component should also be located such that there is relatively direct access to both the highway system and the airfield. Roadway geometrics should also consider the potential for double-and triple-trailer truck configurations.
As indicated earlier, the use of multiple story buildings will greatly increase the productivity of a given land area. In addition, automation and mechanization is becoming more common at airports as the carriers attempt to improve worker productivity. Although these state-of-the-art facilities provide significant productivity gains, they tend to require greater capital investment and be larger in terms of both height and width than the traditional one-level warehouse type cargo building. Cargo facility planning should consider the development of these types of facilities at all airports. It is recommended that future planning provide for the opportunity to accommodate buildings that are 100-300 feet wide.
After the growth in trucking, airports must consider possible increased need for aircraft ramp to accommodate the potential growth in the global freighter fleet. For established more mature airports that are facing space constraints, this could become a serious issue that may eventually require a decision to manage aviation on a more regional basis. Depending on the airport and the region, the creation of dedicated all-cargo airports may become a much more realistic possibility than in the past. It is important however to consider the mix of potential tenants and users at a facility, the fleet mix of the carriers, and how those carriers utilize belly capacity.