AOG Courier Services: What It Takes to Keep Aircraft Flying

In the aviation industry, "AOG" (Aircraft on Ground) is the acronym nobody wants to see. When a commercial airliner is grounded due to a technical fault, the cost in disrupted schedules, passenger compensation, and lost revenue runs into thousands of pounds per minute. Getting the required replacement part to the engineering team isn't a standard delivery — it's an emergency response.

Why AOG needs a specialist courier

A normal delivery service can't handle an AOG run, for three reasons. First, speed: an AOG part doesn't go into a network with collection cut-off times. It needs a dedicated vehicle dispatched immediately — ours collect within 60 minutes of a confirmed booking, 24 hours a day, including bank holidays. Second, airports are secure environments: deliveries often need drivers who are cleared and familiar with airside procedures at major UK airports. Third, high-value parts — avionics, engine components, tooling — demand goods-in-transit insurance and careful chain-of-custody handling, not a plastic parcel bag.

How an AOG run works, step by step

• Call dispatch. A human answers 24/7 and takes the part details, collection point, destination airport, and required handover time.
• Immediate dispatch. The nearest suitable vehicle is assigned. You receive driver and vehicle details within minutes of booking.
• Collection within 60 minutes. The driver collects from the supplier's stores, repair shop, or another airport and signs for the part.
• Direct transit. The vehicle drives straight to the destination — no hub, no consolidation, no other consignments. A London-to-Manchester transit typically takes 3–4 hours door to door.
• Handover and POD. The part is delivered to engineering or stores, and a signed digital proof of delivery with timestamps is emailed to you on completion.

What travels on AOG runs

Typical AOG consignments include engine and APU components, wheels and brakes, avionics units, hydraulic and pneumatic parts, aircraft tooling and calibration equipment, and the paperwork that travels with certified parts. Sizes range from a component small enough for a motorcycle courier to a palletised APU module needing a Luton van with tail lift. The right vehicle is matched to the load at dispatch.

Choosing an AOG courier: five questions to ask

• Is the dispatch desk genuinely staffed 24/7/365 — including nights, weekends, and bank holidays?
• Is the vehicle dedicated to your consignment, or is your part being consolidated with other freight?
• What is the guaranteed collection time after a confirmed booking?
• Are drivers DBS-checked and experienced with airport and airside handover procedures?
• Is goods-in-transit insurance included, and does every job close with a signed digital proof of delivery?

Same Day Express Couriers handles AOG runs to all major UK airports with immediate dispatch and direct dedicated transit. If you have an aircraft on ground right now, don't read further — call 020 4568 4675 and speak to dispatch.