Chapman Freeborn has successfully completed an Antonov 225 charter to transport four giant pieces of oil and gas equipment totalling almost 150 tons from Houston (IAH) to Sao Paulo (GRU).
The charter was the first time the AN-225, the world’s largest fixed-wing aircraft, had been used for an operation in South America.
The global aircraft charter specialist’s Brazil office coordinated the complex preparations and loading of four valves each weighing 37 tonnes. They were assisted by the company’s US team.
Chapman Freeborn experts in Houston and Sao Paulo oversaw the loading, with 100-ton cranes used to manoeuvre the pieces on to the aircraft.
The equipment will form part of a Petrobras refinery project in Paulinia, in the state of Sao Paulo.
Andre Rodrigues, country manager of Chapman Freeborn Brazil, said:
“To successfully complete such a high-profile and challenging project demonstrates the heavy lift expertise and professionalism of our team.
“We’re proud to be the first company to bring the AN-225 to South America and will use the experience and lessons learned in this successful charter in future projects.”
Chapman Freeborn’s Brazil office opened in 2008, making it the first international charter firm to establish an operation in South America. The company has more than 30 offices across five continents and coordinated more than 5,000 aircraft charters last year.