There are phrases that are, by their nature, inherently true; which are rules of the thumb that should be adhered to by anyone with a fair bit of commonsense. “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” is one such statement. Then again, “He who dares wins” is another. As we can see, the former seemingly preaches caution while the latter extols the virtues of taking risks. As contradictory as these two statements may be, they are able to coexist with one another. Investments that bear greater risks, after all, always carry a higher potential yield and a higher chance of failure. The savvy investor is one who is able to accept the risks and perform due diligence that will ensure risk-taking does not become a euphemism for committing financial suicide.
Just as you will likely not invest in an extremely high-risk venture, the same goes for setting up business in a hazardous region such as those afflicted by wars. Yet, like high-risk investments, high-risk countries tend to offer the potential for huge profits, as a number boasts huge reserves of natural resources that are waiting to be tapped. With so many companies avoiding these regions because of the security threat, the canny investor who is able to find a way to mitigate the risks, will be able to enjoy operating in an environment where there is little competition. And while it cannot guarantee that your investment will be a success, SKA Air & Logistics (Skyline Arabia) can provide the logistical solutions that will help reduce risks in hostile territories so you can conduct your business with ease and peace of mind.
A logistics provider unlike any other
Established in 2003 by its President and CEO Mike Douglas, a former Royal Marine, SKA prides itself on being a leading provider of aviation and transportation logistics solutions - ranging from air charter and air freight services, fuel supply services, cargo handling services, and supply chain management. While such services are run of the mill for any transportation and logistics solutions provider, SKA’s differentiating factor can be seen in its other services which include providing safety and security solutions, life support services, and medical evacuation (Medevac) services.
SKA, after all, is not only a leading provider of aviation and transportation logistics solutions; it is the leading provider of such solutions in harsh and hazardous environments. For many organisations, the slogan or mission statement is an ideal towards which the company works. For SKA however, its slogan - “Doing Difficult Jobs In Difficult Places” - is an honest assessment of what the company has been doing for the past seven years.
While SKA’s home office is in Dubai, its main thrust - or two main thrusts - of operations are in Afghanistan and Iraq. In such countries where life is cheap and risks of being caught in a terrorist attack, murder, or abduction are high, the fact that SKA has established and consolidated a presence there is testimony to its excellence. After all with its comprehensive fleet of aircraft, an extensive network of partners, and with its senior management team having a combined 150 years of experience in the aviation industry; SKA has everything to ensure that it provides the best to its clients. And a good example of this is its operations in Iraq.
For some, Iraq is a country that represents the metaphoric “where” to which fools rush but angels fear to tread. Since the US-led Coalition invasion of the country in 2003, and the subsequent civil and sectarian conflict that has broken out, around 130,000 civilians have been killed by the fighting or as part of collateral damage.
However, as mentioned above, a country like Iraq also provides great potential returns as it boasts vast oilfields, the full wealth of which have been left untapped for the better part of 20 years since the First Gulf War in 1991. It is estimated that Iraq’s oil fields has the capacity to provide 11.7 million barrels of crude oil per day, but similar to Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, there is “oil, oil everywhere but it is too dangerous to explore.”
Too dangerous, that is, for normal companies. And this is where SKA’s expertise comes into play…
The angels who do not fear to tread
To paraphrase John Kennedy, SKA does not ask what its clients can do for it, but rather what it can do for its clients. As we have already seen from the above, in terms of air charter and air freight services, its team of highly-trained staff have the capability to provide chartered flights to areas where normal civilian flights dare not even fly over - such as those torn apart by wars, civil strife, and political instability, as well as those where limited infrastructure hinder and even cripple normal air transport logistics providers.
Not surprising then that its services have been sought by a wide-range of parties including those from government, humanitarian, and United Nations organisations. It is able to and has been involved in the transport of humanitarian and reconstruction materials including heavy equipment and consumer goods into the aforementioned hostile environments.
Incidentally, the company boasts a comprehensive fleet of aircraft ranging from the Fokker F-28 - for short-range passenger flights - to the Antonov 225 - which is the largest cargo aircraft in the world. Furthermore, the company also has two types of executive luxury jets - the Hawker 800XP and the Hawker 800EX - for chartered executive flights, as well as two types of helicopters.
SKA’s air operations are coordinated between its operations centre in Baghdad International Airport and its head office in Dubai. Its clients can rest in ease that their valuable cargo are constantly tracked and monitored on a real-time basis, thanks to existence of transponder tracking systems in each aircraft, which links up to a satellite system. One point of interest is that the company also utilises top-notch military technology such as the Blue-Force Tracking system.
Of course, SKA has to ensure that its aircraft are in optimum working condition. As such, it has also set up operations in South Africa and entered into a partnership with AirQuarius - a market leader in aircraft maintenance and operations in the African continent. Furthermore, this expansion has also enabled the company to have an aircraft hangar and maintenance facility in Lanseria International Airport, thus strengthening SKA’s presence in Africa.
Comprehensive supply chain management
Thanks to the efforts of SKA, your cargo and your machinery have arrived safely on site. It is then that you are presented with another challenge - namely the need to have a warehouse. Of course, you can choose to build your own - and in doing so take on the risks and the costs of managing it. Or you might choose to make use of the comprehensive supply management solutions provided by SKA which includes a massive 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse in the Baghdad International Airport. Other warehousing facilities are also available in Basrah, Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Dubai, Kuwait, and parts of Afghanistan.
SKA boasts a 100% record in delivering the goods entrusted to it through its dedicated trucking network. Considering the fact that terrorist attacks on foreign contractors and their equipment is a sadly all too common occurrence in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, SKA can be proud of its success rate. Owing to this, it was entrusted with vital tasks such as the transportation and storage of voter material - though and in some of the most hostile regions in Iraq - which was vital to the development of democracy in post-war Iraq.
Furthermore, SKA is also the only commercial aviation fuel supplier in all of Iraq’s international airports - an accolade it has achieved owing to contract from the Iraqi Ministry of Oil. Furthermore, it has also managed to successfully execute projects such as the repair of a major strategic pipeline linking the Baghdad Dura Oil refinery to the Baghdad International Airport. This was a high-risk mission in an area known for insurgent attacks, and SKA’s success in carrying out the project was and is a definite feather in its proverbial cap.
Security concerns
Such impressive feats could not have been possible without SKA’s very own team of highly-dedicated and highly-skilled security personnel who risk life and limb to ensure that the clients’ needs are met. These brave men personify the dedication that SKA has to its clients. And when you make use of SKA’s services, you can be sure that not only will your goods reach on time and in perfect condition; but so too will you, your executives and your staff.
Furthermore, apart from providing personal and convoy security escorts, as well as guarding compounds and facilities, SKA’s security team members are trained in operation helicopters and performing medical evacuation services. A point of note is that such is its laudable reputation that major banks in Iraq as well as Coalition forces have made use of SKA’s security services to transport cash in the country. Such a sensitive operation requires a contractor that is not only absolutely trustworthy and irreproachable but also one that is able to handle the risks involved. The fact that SKA was chosen to perform this task speaks volumes of its capabilities as well as its professionalism.
Again it cannot be emphasised enough that visiting Iraq is a high-risk venture for anyone unless they have adequate protection. Of course, SKA’s security personnel could and would provide that while one on the road. The question, you might be wondering, is whether or not that security is extended to residential accommodation. In other words, can you be assured of safety while you sleep just as you can be sure of it while on the move?
The answer lies in the form of two camps which are located in the Baghdad International Airport and the Basrah International Airport. These camps boast utilities such as running water, electricity, and sewage drainage systems, as well as telecommunication and Internet services, as well as sleeping rooms and dining facilities. With 24-hour security provided by SKA’s own guards, these camps are the perfect accommodation for short to medium term visitors who wish to have the comfort of modern amenities with the reassurance of safety.
We need only look at the figures. Over the past three years, SKA has carried out 30,000 flight missions in Iraq without any safety issues, it has transported millions of gallons of oil through pipelines and trucks each day without any security concerns, it has handled hundreds of thousands of tonnes of heavy machinery and equipment that have been used in the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan - again without any security concerns.
SKA Air & Logistics is without a doubt a leader, if not THE leader, when it comes to providing comprehensive and total transportation and logistics solutions that not only guarantee the safety and security of goods, materials, and cargo but of people as well. It is a company that boasts the best in hardware as well as heartware. In other words, it has the equipment, it has the resources, and it has the people to get things done. So, fools may rush in where angels fear to tread. But the canny angel is one who makes sure of a partnership with SKA.
About Mike Douglas
A former serviceman in the Royal Marines and the South African Special Forces, SKA Air & Logistics’ founder - Mike Douglas - has successfully led the company into becoming a US$700m business with an extensive reach across the Middle-East. Today SKA is recognised as the leading player in providing comprehensive transportation and logistics services in hazardous and hostile environments - thanks to Douglas’ extensive experience, having travelled and worked in 40 countries, including playing support roles for international humanitarian efforts as well as UN missions in conflict zones such as Angola, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Zaire.
Since 2003, Mike Douglas and SKA has been involved in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq. These include managing the rehabilitation of the five main airports in the country, as well as oversight of aviation fuel operations, PCO logistics, the currency exchange programme, election support programme, and air cargo handling, as well as humanitarian efforts in the country.
A dedicated philanthropist, Mr. Douglas also started a programme in Iraq where 100 children were sponsored by SKA to receive accommodation, food, and basic education. Having recently expanded SKA’s scope of operations to Afghanistan and Africa, Mike Douglas is leading SKA into an exciting future.
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