How many people stop to think about all the preparation that goes on in the background, when the Catholic Pope heads out on an international visit? Among the things to consider, is the transport of his “Papamobiles” or Popemobiles, as they are called. In this case: two Chevrolet versions of the popemobiles for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Peru, 11-16NOV26, needed to be transported from Brazil to Lima. LATAM Cargo orchestrated the transport in coordination with Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and General Motors. The vehicles, each weighing around three tons, with protective structures designed to shield their cabins, arrived in Lima on 02NOV26.
A Boeing 767-300F freighter made the direct flight from Brazil’s Viracopos Airport to Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima. Given the size and particular features of the cars, six to eight hours of ramp preparation was required along with specialized handling procedures. Prior to the operation, much consideration had gone into calculating how the vehicles’ weight would be distributed inside the aircraft, as well as how they would be secured to cargo platforms with specialized tie-down systems, and loaded/unloaded with hydraulic equipment. Two teams of around 20 people were required at each end of the routing, to ensure correct handling, loading and subsequent unloading.
During the operation at Viracopos Airport, Otavio Meneguette, Director of LATAM Cargo Brazil, announced: “We are proud to contribute to such an important event. The transportation of the popemobiles demonstrates LATAM Cargo’s ability to plan and execute special operations efficiently and safely, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our teams.”
