JANUARY 2008 ISSUE 12INTERACTIVE BUSINESS NEWS FROM THE HEAVYWEIGHT IN AIRFREIGHT

25 years on, the AN-124 goes from strength to strength

Captained by pilot V.I. Terskoy, the first flight (on December 24th 1982) was a significant milestone for USSR aviation. The Ruslan was designed by Kiev-based Antonov Design Bureau and

went into series production at the Aviastar Aircraft Factory in Ulyanovsk and Aviant State Aircraft Factory in Kiev. Over 500 component suppliers and equipment manufacturers were involved in the aircraft’s production cycle.

Initially designed as a military heavy transport aircraft, the AN-124’s unmatched payload and range capabilities subsequently created a whole new commercial market for the international movement of heavyweight and outsize air cargo. It is the only freighter aircraft in the world capable of transporting one-piece cargoes weighing up to 150 tons and 36 metres in length.

Since its launch, the AN-124 has established 21 world records, including for payload (lifting over 170 tons to 10,750 metres) and for closed-circuit flight range (over 20,000 km).

The founders of Volga-Dnepr Airlines – led by Alexey Isaikin and also comprising Nikolay Cherkasov, Victor Tolmachev and Nikolay Kachalov – created the new commercial market for the AN-124. Today, the airline is the largest commercial operator of the AN-124 with a fleet of

The unique Antonov AN-124 ‘Ruslan’ ramp freighter aircraft has celebrated the 25th anniversary of its maiden flight from Svyatoshino airport near Kiev.

10 aircraft and has earned a 56% share of the worldwide market for outsize and heavyweight air cargo movements.

“The AN-124 turned out to be a breakthrough that was far ahead of its time,” says Volga-Dnepr Group President, Alexey Isaikin (left). “For a quarter of a century, this unique aircraft has clearly demonstrated that it is irreplaceable in the global air market. Our company, as the world’s largest operator of the AN-124, has initiated successive steps to resume its production. This project can become one of the most promising programs for the Russian aircraft industry in the forthcoming years.”

In 2003, Alexey Isaikin and the management of Antonov Design Bureau gave the green light to the project to resume production of the AN-124 combined with a staged modernisation project. Two new Ruslans are now planned to be built at the Aviastar Aircraft Factory in Ulyanovsk, representing the starting point for new series production of the famous transport aircraft.

Premier Showfreight wins BIFA Project Forwarding AwardPremier Showfreight, based at Croydon Airport in the UK, won the Project Forwarding Award sponsored by Volga-Dnepr Group at the British International Freight Association (BIFA) 2007 Freight Service Awards in London this month. The other finalist in this category was Orion Shipping & Forwarding Ltd.

Steve Harvey (left) of Volga-Dnepr presenting the BIFA award.

FLIGHT OF THE MONTH

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This telescopic slip joint transported by Volga-Dnepr Airlines from Prestwick in Scotland to Pointe Noire, Congo, is the longest piece of cargo ever carried on board one of the airline’s IL-76 freighters.

Measuring 1,981cms in length and 82cms diameter, the 15,500 kilos slip joint was delivered on board one of the airline’s new IL-76TD-90VD freighters on behalf of TransOcean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc.

It was part of a 22,500 kilos shipment that also included a 762cms long, 6,000 kilos ‘pup joint cross over’.

At 1,981cms, drilling equipment is longest IL-76 shipment ever

DHL Global Forwarding called upon Volga-Dnepr and its unique AN-124 cargo aircraft to deliver a 65 ton engine for a giant Komatsu PC3000 excavator used for coal mining.

The flight from St. Petersburg to Kemerovo in Siberia was part of a 1,000 tons logistics project managed by DHL. The rest of the cargo was transported by rail.

Commenting on the success of the movement, DHL stated: “We would like to express our appreciation to all divisions of Volga-Dnepr Airlines for their efficient work in tough time-limit conditions, operational response to changes in circumstances and accuracy in the performance of tasks.”

Volga-Dnepr picks up 65 ton engine unit for Siberia...

Volga-Dnepr once again proved its expertise in transporting heavy excavation equipment for the mining industry when it moved 105 tons of parts for a Caterpillar coal mining excavator from St. Peterburg to Yakutia in northern Russia.

Due to its huge size, the excavator - manufactured in Germany for the Russian company Yakutugol - was delivered to Yakutia in parts. It arrived in St. Petersburg by sea and then the two main pieces were loaded on board an AN-124-100 freighter at Pulkovo Airport for the eight hour transit time to Yakutia. Special loading equipment was required to place the 105 tons cargo into the aircraft. The shipment was so big it occupied virtually the whole AN-124 cargo cabin.

...and delivers 105 tons of parts of coal mining excavator to Yakutia

Who won an iPod Shuffle?

In the December issue of BIGNEWS, we gave you the chance to win one of three iPod Shuffles, the music player that stores up to 240 of your favourite songs.

All of the correct answers were put into a prize draw and the three winners were picked out at random:

• Ulf Gregersen of Aircontact in Norway

• Kieran Daly of Flight Global in the UK

• Andreas Wald of ProAir-Aviation in Germany

We asked you how many Boeing 747-8 freighters Volga-Dnepr Group has ordered. The answer is five plus five more options.

Congratulations to our winners – and look out for another great Volga-Dnepr competition soon.