Air Canada Successfully Transports its Biggest Shipment Ever, 44-foot IMAX Screen

Air Canada was faced with its most challenging freighting operation recently when it had to transport a 44-foot-long IMAX screen weighing nearly 2,000 pounds. This was the biggest item ever loaded onto a Boeing 767 and the team felt that successfully transporting this big an item would put a feather in their cap.

Air Canada issued a release revealing that it recently took on the most challenging freighting operation in its history. The airline was tasked with transporting a 44-foot-long IMAX screen that weighs 800 kg from Toronto to Quito, Ecuador, for the viewing of James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The release said, “While Air Canada Cargo moves some pretty large items with its Boeing 767 freighters, the shipment of an IMAX screen from Toronto to Quito in November put the aircraft and the Air Canada Cargo teams to the test.”

Air Canada’s Cargo Operations Engineering Manager, Mamun Ansari who oversaw the planning and execution of the move said the team had to think outside the box and that they took it on as a challenge. “We had to think outside the box because this was something we never did before, and despite some initial thoughts of ‘what did we get ourselves into,’ everyone on the team bought into the challenge and was excited to solve this puzzle. We felt it would be a real feather in our cap.”

The screen was first transported to Toronto Pearson International Airport by truck from Montreal. A mock-up of the crate that was meant to carry the screen was made using ABS pipes which took multiple days. They used two ladders and leaned them against the plane to lift the crate and then “up to 20 Air Canada staff employees helped maneuver the crate into position inside the main deck.”

Ansari added that this was a team effort and that everyone at Air Canada Cargo is proud of successfully navigating through this challenge. He praised his team for facing the challenge and executing the plan methodically.

Vineet Washington