FOURTH ANNUAL AN-124-100 TECHNICAL CONFERENCE TAKES PLACE

Ulyanovsk, October, 2004, The fourth AN-124-100 technical conference took place on October, 27-28, 2004 in Ulyanovsk, Russia. The principal topic of discussion was the next step that needs to be taken in introducing the AN-124-100 back into production. In attendance were the representatives of the Department of Air Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Power Engineering of Russia, the Inter-Governmental Aviation Committee, the Transport Department of Ukraine, the engineers from Antonov Design Bureau, the aircraft production company, its engines and units (Public Corporation “Aviastar”, Engine Manufacturing Bureau “Progress”, Public Corporation “Motorr-Sich” etc.), the Industrial Research Institutes and all the An-124-100 operators, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Polet Airlines, Antonov Airlines and “224 flight detachment” of the Military Transport Aviation.

A.Yabloncev, a leading expert from the Federal Service Management Supervision of the Air Transport Department of Russia addressed the conference. In his opening statement he said: “International conferences like this, with the participation of two countries, Russia and Ukraine, are vitally important for the ongoing development of the relationship that our two countries have with one another. One of the topics of discussion at the conference was the resolution to bring the AN-124-100 back into production, a decision which was taken at the Russia-Ukraine meeting in the Federal Industry Agency in August 2004, with Boris Aleshin, the Head of the Agency, in attendance. The fourth Conference also discussed the important topic of taking steps to increase the safety of the AN-124-100 and to maximise the effectiveness of these unique aircraft.”

In his welcoming statement, Vladimir Davidov, the General Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: “The fourth AN-124-100 Operational-Technical Conference stands by our firm intention to continue and develop the operation of this aircraft in the sector of world cargo transportation as well as civil aviation.”

The fourth conference directly followed the Ukraine interdepartmental Council conference that took place in Moscow on October 21 2004, where the re-introduction of the AN-124-100 into production was addressed. During the recent conference, the working group, established in September to organise financing and a business plan, overseen by the group director, Vladimir Davidov, signed an agreement on the cooperation for the business plan and on the establishment of the group.

During the first day, October 27th, the conference was carried in the form of a plenary session. The agenda covered the minutes of the third conference and action points which related to the technical upgrade and modernisation of the AN-124-100. During the second day of the conference the forum was split into two sections; operational and technical. A.Yabloncev and A.Snigerev, leading experts of the Federal Supervision Service in the Ministry of Transport of Russia lead the sections.

The first An-124-100 Operational-Technical Conference took place in 1995, the second in 1997, the third in 2001 and the fourth in 2004. Traditionally, during the conferences such issues as technical operations, flight safety and technical improvement of the aircraft are discussed. Many of the urgent issues surrounding An-124-100 operations were successfully addressed and promoted its further development.