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Notes to Editors

  • Chapman Freeborn is the largest air charter broker in the world with 36 offices in 20 countries
  • In June 2007, we were voted"Air Cargo Charter Broker of The Year" at the ACW World Air Cargo Awards in Munich
  • Chapman Freeborn was established in 1973
  • Annual group turnover is over $450m
  • The Chapman Freeborn group employs nearly 300 personnel
  • We specialise in moving urgent cargo, heavy and outsize pieces, high value commodities, dangerous goods and AOG parts
  • Many of the world’s major relief organisations, governments, NGOs and other aid providers use our expertise in transporting relief goods and organising personnel evacuations
  • We provide ACMI, wet, damp and dry leasing solutions for many of the world’s largest airlines
  • We also provide General Sales Agency (GSA), Station Management and Ground Handling Services
  • Our operations division, Paragon Global Flight Support provides 24 hour outsourced flight support
  • Chapman Freeborn is listed in the Sunday Times’ Top Track 250 of the biggest mid-market private companies in the UK

For further information on this story, or about the Chapman Freeborn Group, please contact Julie Black or Andy James on +44 (0)1293 572832

Chapman Freeborn Amsterdam Organises Flight For
Research Into Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

21st January 2005

In April 2003, Judith Snijders’ in Chapman Freeborn’s Amsterdam office received an unusual enquiry on behalf of two of the country’s major hospitals. The Amsterdam Academisch Medisch Centrum and the Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum in Leiden were commissioned by the World Health Organisation to research a hot topic – the effect of flying on our circulation and in particular, the connection with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

The study aims to look at the effects of passengers’ prior medical history and predisposition to circulatory disorders as well as the effect of different activities inflight.

Judith submitted a proposal for the flying requirements but the project was then postponed for several months, until February 2004 when it was agreed once more. After much organizing, the team chartered a Boeing 757 operated by Dutch Bird which finally departed for this special trip on 24PthP May 2004.

The aircraft departed from Amsterdam and flew down to the Canary Islands and back again, a total non-stop flight of 8 hours. Prior to the flight, while in the air and after landing, the 100 volunteer passengers had blood samples taken and blood pressure checked.

The very nature of this flight needed some careful planning – for example, taking needles on board the aircraft which would of course not normally be permitted in the cabin for security reasons. Then there was the fact that the blood had to be stored in oversize centrifuges which are normally used in hospitals and definitely not designed to go on aeroplanes. Each weighed 135kgs and therefore had to be strapped to the floor. These also required power which were beyond the limitations of normal onboard power supply and so a specialist supplier was sourced in Canada that could supply a converter to make them work inflight.

Whilst the findings of the research are not yet complete, and the flight was part of a number of different research projects still to be summarized, the charter was a complete success with Chapman Freeborn, the client and Dutchbird happy to have been part of this vital investigation and most unusual charter project.

For more information on the study please see: http://www.lumc.nl/4060/research/wright.html

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