Recently, air charter specialist Chapman Freeborn partnered with the largest all-cargo airline in the UAE - Maximus Air - to deliver the first MRI machine to Addu Atoll.
The southernmost atoll of the Maldives, Addu Atoll is one of the largest islands in the archipelago. It is home to one of just three cities in the Maldives, Addu City, which is the second most populated area in the country with over 33,000 residents.
The delivery of the MRI machine formed part of the expansion of Hithadhoo Regional Hospital in Addu City, allowing medical professionals to provide a wider range of services to the community. Before its arrival, patients requiring a scan had to travel 350 miles by plane to the Maldivian capital Male. The prompt delivery by the air charter meant that the newly expanded hospital could open on time and start offering this essential service to those in need.
To successfully move the machine and its 166 components, Chapman Freeborn and Maximus Air chartered a flight from the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. They used an Antonov An-124 aircraft – one of the biggest in the world – to move the machine in its entirety. This was a much more cost-effective solution than the alternative option to charter three separate flights using smaller Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft.
This was the first time that an aircraft of this size has landed at Gan International Airport. A runway extension and infrastructure updates were completed in 2016, which allowed the large aircraft to land successfully.
Samir Ramadan, Vice President-Commercial at Maximus Air said:
“The moment this enquiry came to us from Chapman Freeborn, we realised the importance of on-time delivery for this MRI machine. All departments at Maximus got into action and synchronised as this was first ever An-124 operation into Gan island. We are very proud to be part of this project and successfully operate this charter within 48 hours of its confirmation.”
Project managers from Chapman Freeborn accompanied the cargo from Dubai to the Maldives to ensure that the MRI equipment was unloaded safely and correctly upon landing. Chapman Freeborn’s Dubai Commercial Manager-Cargo, Vikas Chaturvedi said:
“We’re delighted to have successfully arranged this charter with Maximus. Transporting this type of medical equipment on short notice requires careful planning and close attention to detail. Our strength lies with our global reach and the aviation professionals working with Chapman Freeborn. We want to thank the team at Maximus and Wings 24 for their valuable support.”