Chapman Freeborn has 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, Belgium and flown by cargo part-charter to Zhengzhou, China.

Chapman Freeborn overcame multiple technical challenges to successfully execute this delivery on time and in a cost-effective manner. The welded tubes were shipped in a 20m-long crate, which ruled out side-door loading as an option. Instead, the cargo was nose-loaded onto a B747-400F, with this aircraft selected as the optimal nose door option for cost-effective delivery. Throughout this process, Chapman Freeborn worked closely with Challenge Group, who were brought in to provide experienced ground handling services at Liege Airport.

Flexibility and adaptability are always required when handling complex oversized freight. 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.

Yoann Maugran, Sales Manager France at Chapman Freeborn Airchartering BV, comments:

“When a customer entrusts us with an oversized shipment, we understand that there is no room for error and that every detail counts. This is where Chapman Freeborn’s expertise comes into play. Oversized freight is often the most challenging part of our business, but also the most rewarding when a mission is successfully completed.”

“This project has highlighted Chapman Freeborn’s expertise in oversized air cargo handling, its ability to smoothly coordinate multi-faceted operations, and its adaptability in the face of last-minute changes,” concludes Yoann Maugran.