Piston Engines and Air Cargo

Fascinating—I read that piston-engine airplanes are better positioned for the future than turbine aircraft. Who woulda thunk it? Seems to me the pundits have been predicting the demise of piston aircraft since the 1960s. It hasn't happened yet and that rather tickles me. On the one hand, I'd love to see a small, low-cost turbine engine for Cherokees and Skyhawks. But, on the other hand—as Tevye said in “Fiddler on the Roofâ€â€”it is enjoyable to see the piston engines that have served so well for so long, fool the naysayers one more time. ATL recently announced a growth in cargo use for several consecutive quarters. This is another bit of news in which I revel. Way back when air cargo often meant twin Beeches, DC-3s, and/or Aztecs, my Airport Business column, Ground Clutter, predicted great growth in air cargo. For once, I got it dead right. It is amazing that so many of the nonflying public have scarcely noticed the great growth in air cargo. Most major airports have a vast section of hangars and ramps space devoted exclusively to air cargo. Oddly, most people never notice it. Many people seem to think that air cargo moves in the belly of airliners. Cargo flights may be the most efficient use of airplanes in the history of flight. They fly on time, mostly because of a contract system that rewards on-time flights and punishes late flights. Air cargo proves beyond a doubt that old economic saying, "People react to incentives."   We’d love to post your comments.  Please click the comment tab at the top.