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Most air cargo moves on scheduled flights, in space shared with other shippers. A charter is different. You book the whole aircraft, for your cargo and your timing. That costs more, so the question is always whether waiting costs more still.
This guide covers when a charter makes sense, how cargo charters and helicopter charters differ, and what to prepare so the desk can move fast.
How SSL arranges charters
Charters are a partner-arranged service. Safe & Secure Logistics does not own aircraft. We source the aircraft or helicopter from an approved operator, get the permissions moving, coordinate handling and run the road legs at both ends.
| Who does what | SSL | Operator partner |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo charter | Charters the aircraft, handles permissions and airport coordination, runs road legs, one point of contact | Aircraft and crew, flight permissions under the operator’s DGCA approvals, airport cargo handling |
| Helicopter charter | Charters the helicopter, handles permissions and landing sites, runs ground logistics, one point of contact | Helicopter and crew, DGCA non-scheduled operator permit, flight and landing permissions |
Civil aviation in India is regulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The operator, not SSL, holds the approvals to fly.
When a cargo charter makes sense
- A line stoppage. A plant is down and the part cannot wait for scheduled space.
- A project deadline. A milestone carries more cost if missed than the charter itself.
- An outsized piece. The cargo is too large for scheduled flights.
- Relief and time-critical shipments. Timing matters more than cost.
If none of these apply, scheduled air freight or road transport is usually the better choice.
When a helicopter charter makes sense
Helicopters reach sites that roads cannot. Typical uses:
- Remote project and plant sites, such as hill projects
- Emergency and time-critical movements
- Corporate site visits to hard-to-reach locations
Every helicopter has payload and weather limits. Cargo can go inside or as an underslung load where approved, and the pilot decides what is safe to carry. Daylight rules and landing-site permissions also shape what is possible. For heavy or oversized cargo that a helicopter cannot lift, see project cargo.
What to prepare before you call
The faster you give the desk these facts, the faster you get real options.
For a cargo charter:
- What the cargo is
- Dimensions of each piece
- Weight of each piece and in total
- Pickup point and delivery point
- The deadline, and why it is fixed
For a helicopter charter:
- Route and landing sites
- Passengers or cargo, with weight
- Date and any time window
- Who controls each landing site
How a charter runs
Cargo charter:
- Brief. Cargo, dimensions, weight, route and deadline.
- Aircraft options. The desk sources aircraft options and quotes.
- Permissions and handling. Flight permissions are arranged and airport handling is booked.
- Fly. Road leg to the airfield, flight, road delivery.
- Close. POD and one bill.
Helicopter charter:
- Brief. Route, landing sites, passengers or cargo, weight and date.
- Helicopter options. The desk sources approved helicopters and quotes.
- Permissions. Flight and landing permissions are arranged.
- Ground logistics. Road legs to and from helipads are coordinated.
- Fly and close. The flight operates and the trip is closed with you.
Why the road legs matter
A charter saves hours in the air. Those hours are lost if the truck to the airfield is late. SSL has been in road transport since 1951, with 76,000+ truck hires a year, 110+ branches and offices and 2,000+ destinations. That road network carries your cargo to the aircraft and from the airfield to the site.
Checklist
- Cost of waiting compared with the cost of a charter
- Dimensions and weight measured for every piece
- Pickup, delivery and landing sites confirmed
- Deadline stated, with the reason it is fixed
- Feasibility confirmed by the desk before you commit
- Road legs at both ends planned with the flight
Get options for your charter
Send your brief through a request for quote or ask for a quick quote. The desk will come back with options and an honest timeline.
Figures for Safe & Secure Logistics are for FY2025-26 from our booking register. How each one is counted is on the Facts and sources page.