UK charter broker Hunt & Palmer International (H&P) has signed an alliance with hostage risk-avoidance consultancy Control Risks to provide emergency evacuation from international hotspots. Under the deal, H&P is to become the air transport provider for Control Risks' CR24 rapid response scheme offered to companies operating in volatile international situations.
Pete Lynch Williams, H&P's commercial manager, says the deal formalises work carried out for several years. H&P airlifted around 40 utility workers in Pakistan and India during the two countries' nuclear stand-off last year and has been involved in emergency plans for companies operating in South America.
"The threat of impending war in the Middle East has brought lots of enquiries," he says. Under the scheme, companies either commission a one-off evacuation plan or pay a retainer to have aircraft available at short notice close to affected locations for skeleton staff. The programme works on a four-stage risk level basis, with Control Risks updating its clients on security information on a 30min basis during periods of intense instability. H&P draws up an emergency pack containing ground-handling information, navigational maps and details of onward scheduled services from the closest safe airport.
Source: Flight International
