Giant Ruslan and Future Perspectives Surprised the ICAO Visitor

Ricardo Heighes the Director of ICAO Technical Cooperation Bureau recently visited Volga-Dnepr Airlines. During the visit he had a rare chance to step onto the board of An-124-100 to receive unforgettable impressions.

The purpose of the visit was to review opportunities for cooperation between ICAO and aviation training and educational establishments of Ulyanovsk.

When visiting the Volga-Dnepr International Training Center Mr. Heighes was briefed as to how the training process is structured and trainees categorized. Ricargo Heighes underlined that the Training Center was a professional aviation personnel training organization and suggested that the Center participate in ICAO TRAINAIR Program (training program based on modern technologies). “This will help to establish the interchange of experience between the Program participants and involve trainees from Russia and other countries,” he said.

In the course of the meeting with the company management personnel Mr. Ricardo Heighes outlined the major trends of ICAO activities in the flight safety area. After having been presented the information on how Volga-Dnepr does its business he noted the high level of the company efforts in promoting safety and preventing the aviation accidents.

Summarizing the visit to Ulyanovsk Mr. Heighes said “I am really impressed with the attention that your company attaches to safety and especially accidents prevention activities. The presentation of this matter made by the management is worth being noted by the global aviation community and the Volga’s experience shall be used in the international air navigation business”. The guest from Montreal also visited the Ulyanovsk Civil Aviation School.

Ricardo Heighes appreciated the hospitality delivered to him by Alexey Isaikin, the President of Volga-Dnepr Group, Alexander Sidorin, the Deputy DG, Operations and Vladimir Zubkov the Senior Vise President, Corporate Relations and expressed his positive belief in the future cooperation. First steps towards the joint work have been already made. Volga-Dnepr’s representatives were included in the official Russian delegation to ICAO aviation accidents prevention conference (AIG/08). Volga-Dnepr’s Training Center has drafted and submitted to ICAO its proposals on cooperation in aviation personnel training and upgrading.