Volga-Dnepr Airlines issued this statement:

Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the world leader in oversized and super-heavy transportations, has completed its sixth Antarctic program operating 5 IL-76TD-90VD charter flights to the coldest continent under the DROMLAN international Antarctic project.

All the flights were operated from Cape Town (South Africa) to Novolazarevskaya runway (Novo) in close cooperation with the Antarctic Logistics Centre International (ALCI), covering a distance of over 4,200 km and delivering over 200 tons of general cargo essential for intact and uninterrupted work of the research stations.

With Volga-Dnepr’s expertise, experience, aligned procedures and capable fleet of five IL-76TD-90VD freighters, the company was able to accomplish landing and take-off on a glacial blue ice runway which supposes great skill and competence from the crew members.

Ekaterina Andreeva, Commercial Director for Volga-Dnepr Airlines, highlights: ‘We are proud to be part of the DROMLAN international Antarctic project this year. Despite the challenging times and COVID-19 restriction, we supported the program to Antarctic Research Stations, thus enabling the scientists to continue their research programs. We would like to thank our partner, ALCI, who creates the intercontinental air bridge between Cape Town (South Africa) and Novolazarevskaya station during the austral summer. Each year we increase the number of certified crew members to guarantee smooth operations – by 2020/2021 we have had two trained and qualified crews and we hope that by the next season we will have more’.

Since 2015 Volga-Dnepr Airlines has been part of the program and accomplished over 150 charter flights to/from Antarctica delivering over 1,700 tons of general and special cargo. The modernized IL-76TD-90VD aircraft provides a series of advantages in terms of its flying distance capability, payload weight capacity, hermetical cargo hold, and its fuel-efficient and environment-friendly engines. This enables Volga-Dnepr to complete cargo missions to any remote regions under severe weather conditions.

Each year the company ramps up its capabilities and introduces new routes and delivery options. For a number of years Volga-Dnepr has been offering delivery solutions with ‘airlift-and-drop’ possibility which are more preferable for some types of cargo and operating flights to other stations in Antarctica. In 2020, Volga-Dnepr’s specialists masterminded its first-ever IL-76TD-90VD fights which crossed the Antarctica on its way from South Africa to Chile.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the expert in super heavy and outsized air cargo transportation, has re-started the Antonov An-124-100 commercial operations.

The first plane has taken off after the completion of technical checks and execution of service directives to a full extent.

Konstantin Vekshin, Chief Commercial Director of Volga-Dnepr Group, highlights: “It appears that we have been able to re-start our An-124-100 operations before the end of this year. We are in the process of diligent execution of the service directives, the technical checks are on the right track. As expected, our first An-124-100 is back in the air again. The ultimate return will be incremental and we will still take our time to follow the guidelines reflected in the service directives”.

Volga-Dnepr has taken a thorough approach towards re-launch of An-124 commercial operations to secure the utmost flight safety in line with existing industry and internal standards. The company will be discussing the return to service and availability of An-124 with the customers individually and will keep them and the market informed about the situation.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines Antonov An-124 (RA-82042) suffered a runway excursion on landing at Novosibirsk (OVB) after declaring an emergency. The incident was caused by an uncontained number 2 engine failure.

Social Media:

The airline issued this statement:

Volga-Dnepr’s An-124-100 ramp freighter aircraft has made an emergency landing in Tolmachevo airport (Novosibirsk, Russia). The captain took the decision to return to the airport of departure due to technical issues and the plane rolled off the runway upon landing. No crew members were injured.

The plane was operating a charter flight from Seoul (South Korea) to Vienna (Austria) with a tech stop in Novosibirsk (Russia) with 84 tons of automotive spare parts. The airlines’ technical support crew with essential equipment immediately flew to Novosibirsk to evaluate and rectify any consequences.

After the emergency landing, all crew members were examined by medical personnel and most importantly none were injured. At the moment we are cooperating with the aviation authorities and Novosibirsk airport with respect to this event and will thoroughly analyze the situation accordingly’, – highlighted Igor Aksenov, General Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

Videos:

Giant Pandas Lumi and Pyry have settled into their new home at Ahtari Zoo in Finland after travelling from China onboard one of Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ freighter aircraft.

The delivery of Lumi and Pyry was performed under a joint program of the People’s Republic of China and Finland aimed at the preservation and study of giant pandas. Their arrival in Finland followed the signing of an agreement in 2017 by the Preservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Dujiangyan, which agreed to transfer the two pandas to Ahtari Zoo for a set time period.

During the flight, the pandas were accompanied by one of their keepers and a vet from the Finnish zoo, who ensured their safety and well-being throughout the journey. To monitor the conditions onboard the aircraft, special measuring equipment was acquired for the flight. One hour before landing, the crew gradually lowered the temperature in the cargo hold to 10°C to help the pandas acclimatize gradually for their arrival in snow-covered Helsinki. Onboard the aircraft, they enjoyed their usual food rations, including chopped bamboo shoots, carrots and apples.

In support of other wildlife preservation projects, in recent months Volga-Dnepr Airlines has safely delivered two Southern White Rhinos from the Zoological Center Ramat Gan in Israel to Rostov-on-Don Zoo in Russia, while the Group’s Atran Airlines delivered rare and protected Przhevalsky horses for Orenburgsky National Nature Reserve for a third time as part of a reintroduction program in Russia’s Ural Steppe.

Interesting facts:

The Chinese preservation park held an official farewell ceremony for the pandas, which was widely covered by local and national Chinese media. Finland’s Ambassador in China was on hand to issue symbolic Schengen visas to the pandas.

Lumi and Pyry were greeted by Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, China’s Ambassador to Finland, Ahtari authorities and other distinguished guests at the VIP terminal at Helsinki Vantaa Airport.

To mark the special mission, a special giant panda sticker was placed on the fuselage of Volga-Dnepr’s IL-76TD-90VD.

Lumi and Pyry are expected to live at Ahtari Zoo for between 10 to 15 years and will return to their homeland after that. Their cubs, if any, will also go to China with their parents, which is provided under the agreement.

Photos: Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

Video: