Global aircraft charter specialist Chapman Freeborn will promote its on-board courier services at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2014, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 3 to 6, says Chapman commercial manager: Africa Alfie Arrowsmith.

This will mark Chapman Freeborn’s first year as an exhibitor at the Mining Indaba, but the company did send three employees who attended the event as visitors in the past.

“As it is our first year as an exhibitor, we are hoping to secure a few chartered flight bookings or at least have some leads that we can follow up on after the indaba,” says Arrowsmith.

He explains that business deals are often concluded long after Chapman Freeborn has established contact with a potential client, at a time when new projects start and air-chartering services are required at a later stage.

Additionally, Arrowsmith says that if the company secures a significant amount of business at this year’s indaba, it will be a major motivating factor for Chapman Freeborn to return next year.

“We are looking forward to the business matchmaking sessions at the Mining Indaba,” he notes.

“We believe that the indaba will be a great place to network and meet mining executives, explorers, geologists, engineers, bankers, financial advisers, analysts, governments, lawyers, mining services providers and professional investors.

“This will present us with an opportunity to generate business with the global mining industry and promote Chapman Freeborn as a global company with more than 30 offices worldwide,” states Arrowsmith.

He mentions that exhibiting at the indaba will offer significant exposure to Chapman Freeborn, highlighting the company as a global player in the air charter business.

“Our aim at the indaba is to increase attendees’ knowledge and understanding of Chapman Freeborn’s position as a partner in the African mining sector, gain new clients and touch base with existing clients,” states Arrowsmith.

He points out that more than 8 000 delegates, representing nearly 1 800 companies, are expected at the Mining Indaba and adds that the event will provide a platform for Chapman Freeborn to interact with more than 400 sponsors.

“The Mining Indaba will also bring together about 45 African and non-African government delegations and the participants will represent nearly all the stakeholders and value-chain participants in Africa’s mining industry, exposing Chapman Freeborn to all the major players,” notes Arrowsmith.

He adds that the company is looking forward to learning about the latest exploration trends in Africa, particularly with regard to coal, iron-ore and precious metals.

“We are quite involved in moving equipment to and from mines, so having a better understanding of the commodities and staying abreast of the latest trends are vital to understanding our clients’ business,” he says.

Meanwhile, Arrowsmith tells Mining Weekly that, in addition to promoting its on-board courier services, Chapman Freeborn aims to assist companies that require group and private air chartering by providing them with services ranging from site visits to crew rotations. He also highlights the company’s ability to respond to emergency situations.

Delivering Aid to the Philippines

According to Chapman Freeborn’s website, the company used two of its utility freighters, based in the Philippines – an Ilyushin IL-76 and an Antonov AN-12 – to charter aid to smaller airports in the country in November.

This was after a typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the Philippines, claiming the lives of just under 6 000 people.

Chapman Freeborn business development director Pierre Van Der Stichele says the palletised freighters were transporting relief supplies to the Cebu and Manila airports.

“There was a lack of smaller aircraft to dispatch the aid cargo into other areas that had less infrastructure. With the IL-76 and AN-12, we can assist aid agencies and nongovernmental organisations to reach areas that are much less accessible so that the people in need can receive aid quickly,” he adds.

Van Der Stichele explains that the more remote airports in the Philippines were not able to support large, palletised freighters, owing to the lack of equipment.

“The IL-76 and the AN-12 are perfect for inaccessible regions with short and sometimes unpaved runways; these aircraft also boast self-load capabilities to facilitate a quick turnaround,” he says.

Further, Van Der Stichele says that the AN-12 aircraft was capable of transporting up to 17.8 t of cargo, while the IL-76 freighter could carry a maximum payload of 45 t.

“Chapman Freeborn’s global offices worked closely with freight forwarders and aid agencies worldwide to fly in about 3 000 t of relief supplies,” he adds.

The Philippine aid flights included the delivery of water tanks, water purification units, generators and squatting plates (latrines), as well as blankets, sleeping bags, tents, kitchen sets and emergency health kits.

“Chapman Freeborn also chartered two turboprop AN-12 aircrafts, which were among the first aircrafts to reach the typhoon-hit country, carrying relief aid,” Van Der Stichele adds.

On-Board Courier Service

Meanwhile, Chapman Freeborn Africa MD Iain Clark told Mining Weekly in September that the company was raising the profile of its specialist on-board courier division, following the successful global expansion of the service last year.

This division delivers time- critical parts and important documents worldwide.

Clark said the upgrading of the division’s services followed the introduction of an Internet application, which enabled clients to track their global shipments online in real time.

“This new application further underlines Chapman Freeborn’s commitment to expanding its portfolio of value-added services, which complements our core aircraft charter activities,” he asserted.

Further, Clark stated that the company’s specialist on-board courier division offered fully insured and professionally trained couriers who had passports and visas for countries that were highly challenging to access, which, under normal circumstances, made regular courier services vulnerable to supply chain delays.