Supporting relief efforts in the aftermath of the recent typhoon, an Ilyushin Il-76 and Antonov An-12 have been positioned to the Philippines to provide high-capacity airlift capabilities to remote airfields.
Chapman Freeborn has positioned the two freighters on rotation at Cebu and Manila and Tacloban airports to augment larger freighters that cannot access smaller airfields.
“At present, the palletised freighters are bringing in relief supplies into Cebu and Manila airports. There is a lack of smaller aircraft to dispatch the aid cargo into other areas with less infrastructure. With the Il-76 and An-12, we can assist aid agencies and NGOs to reach areas that are much less accessible so that the people in need are able to receive aid quickly,” Chapman Freeborn said.
The more remote airports in the Philippines are not able to support large, palletised freighters due to the lack of equipment, making the short and unpaved runway capabilities of the Il-76 and An-12 well suited.
The An-12 aircraft is capable to transport up to 15 to 17.8 tonnes of cargo, while the Il-76 freighter can carry a maximum payload of 40 to 45 tonnes.
To date Chapman Freeborn has facilitated the shipment of nearly 3,000 tonnes of relief supplies.
