On May 25, 2025, Leonardo officially delivered the first ATR 72-600MPA maritime patrol aircraft to the Philippine Air Force.
On May 25, 2025, Leonardo officially delivered the first ATR 72-600MPA maritime patrol aircraft to the Philippine Air Force. The aircraft, registered as CSX62349 with manufacturer serial number 1702, completed a multi-leg ferry flight from Italy, including a stopover in Phuket, Thailand.
Chapman Freeborn Flight Support provided end-to-end logistical support for the delivery, managing flight planning, routing, ground handling, refuelling, crew travel, and accommodation arrangements.
“It was a privilege to be part of such a critical delivery, supporting both the flight crew and engineers along every leg of the journey. Coordinating a mission of this scale across multiple countries and time zones requires precision, teamwork, and flexibility.
This successful handover marks not only a milestone for the Philippine Air Force, but a testament to the collaboration between all the team involved.” said Vivienne Sinclair, a member of the flight operations team, who accompanied the aircraft to support the flight crew and engineering personnel throughout the journey.
This delivery represents a significant milestone under a broader defence agreement with Elbit Systems, designed to enhance the Philippines’ long-range maritime surveillance capabilities.
The ATR 72-600MPA has been specially configured for maritime patrol missions and is equipped with state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. Its primary missions will include ISR operations and strengthening maritime domain awareness. The aircraft will now undergo a series of post-delivery inspections and operational testing before being declared fully mission-ready.
Following a successful first operation, Chapman Freeborn’s Flight Support Team is set to deliver a second ATR-72 this month.
Chapman Freeborn combines 50 years of experience with extensive global coverage to provide flight support services for major corporations, governments, NGOs, relief agencies, and high net-worth individuals. The company is part of Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, operating a fleet of 209 aircraft worldwide and the parent company of over 250 subsidiaries. The group offers a wide range of aviation solutions, including MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, and other related aviation services. Supported by 14,000 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates across 6 continents.
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