Chapman Freeborn has successfully handled the delivery of oversized industrial equipment from Belgium to China. The equipment, welded tubes for industrial heat exchangers, was 20 meters long and weighed 700 kg. It was nose-loaded into a Boeing 747-400F at Liege Airport (LGG), Belgium and flown by cargo part-charter to Zhengzhou (CGO), China.

The global air charter specialist noted that the client chose air cargo rather than ocean freight for transporting this delicate, oversized equipment because of a tight timeframe for delivery.

 [Source: Chapman Freeborn]

The transport involves a 20-meter-long crate of welded tubes. Due to the crate's dimensions, side-door loading was not feasible; the cargo was instead nose-loaded onto a B747-400F, selected for its compatibility with the shipment's size and configuration.

The operation began in July with the truck offload and cargo build-up, followed by aircraft loading two days later. The welded tubes required careful handling to avoid bending or damage, adding complexity to the process.

Loading and unloading involved a coordinated setup of two cranes for the landside transfer and three high loaders operated by six ground staff for the airside phase. Chapman Freeborn worked alongside Challenge Group, which provided ground handling support at Liege Airport (LGG).

Yoann Maugran, sales manager France at Chapman Freeborn Airchartering BV, noted that oversized freight is often the most challenging part of the business, but also the most rewarding when a mission is completed. "When a customer entrusts us with an oversized shipment, we understand that there is no room for error and that every detail counts."

Chapman Freeborn said flexibility and adaptability are always required when handling complex oversized freight.

It noted that in the case of this delivery, an added complication was the last-minute change of final destination from Shanghai (PVG) to Zhengzhou (CGO).

"Despite this shift, Chapman Freeborn was able to provide the client with all necessary services, assisting with export customs clearance and maintaining direct flight representation. This ensured smooth operations and real-time updates for the client," the air charter company said.

The company is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world's largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, operating a fleet of 209 aircraft worldwide and the parent company of over 250 subsidiaries.