Some shipments are complex. Others are meaningful. This one was both.
Over the festive period, one of AWA’s international partners required urgent assistance to move a brand-new Search and Rescue helicopter from New Zealand to Lima, Peru. With no direct air service available into Lima, the routing required a carefully coordinated transshipment through the United States.
American Worldwide Agencies stepped in to manage the U.S. gateway portion of the move.
U.S. Gateway Coordination
The helicopter arrived into Los Angeles strapped to a 20-foot ULD. From there, the AWA team took control of the operation.
Key elements of the move included:
- Airport recovery immediately upon arrival at LAX
- Secure transport from the airline terminal to AWA’s facility
- Coordination of crane services, certified technicians, and specialized trucking equipment
- Controlled transload from ULD configuration to over-the-road transport
- Long-haul trucking from Los Angeles to Miami
- Freighter uplift from MIA to LIM
The shipment landed at LAX on December 23 at 06:00 in the morning. By the time it arrived at AWA’s facility, the crane, technician, and truck were already positioned and ready.
The helicopter was transloaded, strapped, braced, and secured for domestic transport. By 15:00 that same afternoon, the truck was en route to Miami, maintaining schedule integrity despite the holiday timing.
Precision Under Pressure
This move required coordination across multiple customs authorities, airline stakeholders, crane operators, and specialized trucking providers. Each segment carried operational and compliance considerations that demanded careful sequencing and communication.
Despite the complexity, the project was executed efficiently and without disruption.
Once in Miami, the helicopter moved onward via freighter service to Lima, completing a carefully managed multi-leg journey from Oceania to South America.
More Than a Shipment
Search and Rescue aircraft are not typical cargo. They serve communities. They protect lives.
Today, travelers and residents in the Andes region of Peru have an additional Search and Rescue helicopter available when conditions turn difficult. It is not often that a logistics operation has such a visible and direct community impact.
For AWA, this project reflected what strong gateway execution and neutral partnership can achieve when routing challenges require creative solutions and precise coordination.
