If this post belongs in the 135 section, I'm sure a helpful mod will be happy to move it for me.

I remember the heady days of 1997 when UPS would do 100-aircraft "lear launches" out of SDF. It's my understanding that they were severely short on aircraft and would have to charter to get their volume where it needed to be on time. Obviously, that's no longer the case and I know they have contracts with 135s (ameriflight, the shorts operator in WI, etc) to move some volume on a regular basis. But do these charter ops still happen on occassion? And if so, how does a company get on the "short list" to call when the need arises? Same question applies to Fedex or DHL.

I ask because with the end of check flying heaving in to view, I'm sure there are a number of operators looking for the next type of business.