A recent order for two Alenia C-27J Spartans by Peru has highlighted a new way to assess the merits of airlifters, which the company labels as “transport productivity.” Rather than use traditional methods of assessing operating costs, such as cost per flying hour, it is better to evaluate the transport cost per ton/mile, asserted Giovanni Timossi, Alenia’s v-p international sales for Asia and Oceania.
Alenia sees this as a powerful tool in the “battle of the airlifters” with Airbus Defence and Space’s C295 transport. According to Timossi, the C-27J’s 24 percent greater load and 23 percent greater speed allow it to complete typical transport tasks with a saving in actual flying hours of up to 60 percent, not only reducing direct operating costs, but also maintenance requirements. Timossi also stressed the C-27J’s 8100-kg payload capability when operating at tactical 3g limits.
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