Chris Chapman is 2010 Recipient of Tiaca's 'Hall of Fame' Award

Chris Chapman, founder and chairman of Chapman Freeborn Airmarketing is to be inducted into The International Air Cargo Association's (TIACA) 'Hall of Fame' in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development and growth of the global air charter market.

His achievements will be officially recognized at the annual TIACA Hall of Fame Dinner on May 17th in Leipzig, Germany, during TIACA's 2010 Executive Summit and AGM. The presentation dinner will take place in the city's world renowned Porsche Customer Service Centre, which houses many rare and valuable original Porsche cars.

Jack Boisen, Chairman of TIACA's Chairman's Council, said: Chris is extremely deserving of this recognition. Wherever you go in the world, the name Chapman Freeborn is synonymous with the air charter industry and is recognized for the quality and professionalism of its services. He has grown the business organically from the beginning and demonstrated a skill for business creation and innovation that justifiably earns him a place in TIACA's Hall of Fame.

Born in 1942, Chris Chapman began his cargo career with freight forwarder, Thomas Meadows before entering the world of air charter in 1959 with Tradair, based at the UK's Southend Airport. Three years later, he joined forces with Tradair founder, Eric Hanks in a new charter brokering business, H Clarkson Air & Shipping Services, which went on to become the worldwide charter broker, Clarkair.

In 1973, he founded Chapman Freeborn Airmarketing with partner, Mike Freeborn. The company was originally established to market Alaska International Air's fleet of Hercules freighters. At its peak Alaska International Air operated five aircraft but with business faltering in the local oil and gas industry, new revenue streams were urgently required. Chapman Freeborn successfully utilized these aircraft for ad-hoc charters and longer term contracts in Africa and, later, across the globe.

After Mike Freeborn stepped back from an active role in the company in 1978, Chris continued to drive the business forward, successfully branching out into new markets and expanding the company worldwide. Today, Chapman Freeborn has 32 offices in 22 countries across five continents. It coordinated more than 5,000 cargo and passenger charter contracts last year, in addition to many ACMI, wet and dry aircraft lease arrangements ranging from Boeing 747, Airbus A300 and IL-76 freighters to Fokker 100s and Boeing 767 passenger airliners.

Furthermore, the company's charter work has generated two subsidiaries; Air Dispatch International and Paragon Global Flight Support, providing outsourced airline representation and flight operation services respectively.

Alongside day-to-day work for freight forwarders and logistics providers, regular aid movements are also managed for NGO clients and agencies including various agencies in the United Nations system, Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières, International Committee of the Red Cross and USAID.

Created in 1997, the Hall of Fame recognizes the contribution of air cargo's most influential business leaders. TIACA members, industry organizations and the industry press are invited to nominate individuals to be considered for the award and the honorees are selected by TIACA's Chairman's Council, which includes all past chairmen and the current chairman of the Association.