Tronolog

With around half the worlds population living in city areas Tronalog is vital for future supply, by allowing nations, states and cities to experience budget, express freight without typical delays. This is of substantial benefit to industries and economies in inland regions and cities where there are no port facilities as well as those on the coast.

» Tronolog Q-400 estimated shipping container cost to consumers: all distances

(Add 20% for Q-300H)

Australian Dollars

» Long range

Between London and New Zealand – the longest distance flight - typically 40ft-45ft container costs would initially be around $20,000 per container: or $2 per kilo. Over this distance a container ship can take up to 2 months to arrive. These estimates enable repayment of the aircraft within around 3-4 years while still providing profit to the operator – basic statistics ignoring profits to industry and corporations accessing cheaper labour or goods and other advantages fast freight provides. .After repayment, Tronolog virtually prints money for its owners. Or, as compromise, freight costs can be lowered to harvest a higher percentage of the shipping market.

» Shorter distance costs

Over shorter journeys the cost per container drops, representing a much lower percentage: cost per container for a container over a six hour flight would be about $5,000, or 50 cents per kilo. Where viable, agriculture may be an economic benefactor of this transport. A load example, dependant on how much product can fit in a container, is $5 per kilo x 7,000kg = $35,000 dollars per container. Over a long flight much of any profit is reduced by the higher expense over greater distances. The price at certain markets may be several times higher and by having access to them can enable a better return in many scenarios.

» Other markets

Although Q-series types is expected to be in demand predominantly by the manufacturing sector, after it enters service the Tronolog is expected to used by a greater variety of users.

Even with efficient refrigeration, many foods cannot remain fresh; Tronolog will get produce from anywhere in the world in only 24 hours to any marketplace. This ultimately giving fresher, cheaper foods to more consumers, because when prices are lower (from competitive market access) sales are higher. This balance improves life for all; farmers profit from increased sales and higher relative prices, consumers profit from having cheaper, higher quality goods, and freight businesses get more customers.

Tronologs delivering produce may be limited by this aircrafts purchase price; with the follow through of new types, and second hand versions of the Q-series will boost availability. Since most farms and agricultural communities are inland, it’s traditionally difficult to export foods: presently, harvest points are up to 2 months away from sales markets. Freight costs will be set by Tronolog owners, operators and leasers and driven by competition.

Wheat shipping costs in Australia over several hundred kilometres are around $50 per tonne; multiplied by 500, the wheat tonnage able to carried over these distances by Tronolog, it becomes a possible replacement. In relevant areas this will bring competition to the industry and force prices to stay at reasonable rates.

Due to the high maintenance cost of railways over isolated regions, many are being closed or being run-down, severely restricting various businesses in areas traditionally used for agriculture. With the Q-series transport, only two 3.3+ kilometre airports are required, one at each end of the business. Runways require very little maintenance, instead of hundreds, or even thousands of kilometres of tracks. Tronolog will encourage both use of existing factories - and enable more to be built - in areas without port facilities. This gives access to competitive labour and job markets improving business by ultimately lowering costs.

The SF will also rid some countries of being reliant on pressured port cities and inadequate railways (found even in wealthy countries) for the bulk of imports and exports. This isolation can be experienced from industrial or political conflicts also. Supply problems in a post global warming era – if ports are lost to flooding - are drastically negated.

The economics of Tronolog will improve as more enter service, creating competition, with 800 expected to be sold from the performance value of the type, particularly when recognised operationally. Tronolog is considered by BAT to be a vital programme, because of the benefits it will provide to everyone worldwide.

Coast to coast air freight

Tronolog will grow the markets of inter-city air-cargo, particularly between cities in larger continents such as America and Russia. This enables much more co-ordinated manufacturing and other industry/servicing than present.

Coal

BAT is currently researching the viability of using Tronologs for operations such as coal transportation. A 400 tonne payload is small when compared to a train, however the fact rail transportation costs are very high, as well as reloading to a ship up-scales relative cost where using Q-series aircraft becomes viable. In some locations railway lines do not exist and must be built at high financial and time costs, both to build and later to maintain, and railway lines can take years to complete. With a system using Tronologs all that is needed is a runway which can be built within. Fifty Tronologs could do the work of present locomotives and ships possibly up to 40% cheaper. This would free up harbours for freight use, or simply augment a clogged system while giving more profit to mining companies.

Although the $330 million cost per aircraft seems prohibitive, this is a one-off tax deductible price with further benefits such as depreciation off-setting purchase cost. Mining companies may be able to fill the otherwise empty returning Tronologs to move freight which will also off-set costs and boost profits to operators.