Chris Chapman enjoys the limelight

Chris Chapman, founder and chairman of Chapman Freeborn Airchartering (CF), is to be inducted into the International Air Cargo Association's (TIACA) 'Hall of Fame'.

Jack Boisen, chair of TIACA's chairmans' council, says: "The award recognises his outstanding contribution to the development and growth of the global aircraft charter market. He has grown the business organically from the beginning and demonstrated a skill for business creation and innovation."

Chapman initially worked at freight forwarder Thomas Meadows and later joined with Tradair founder Eric Hanks in a new charter brokering business, H Clarkson Air & Shipping Services, which became the worldwide charter broker Clarkair.

In 1973, he founded Chapman Freeborn Airmarketing with partner Mike Freeborn. The company marketed Alaska International Air's fleet of Hercules freighters. In response to the need to diversify income Chapman Freeborn successfully utilised these aircraft for ad hoc charters and longer term contracts in Africa and, later, across the globe.

TIACA, a not-for-profit trade association for the air cargo industry, hosts the ceremony on 17 May in Leipzig, Germany.