NEW 150 TONNES CAPACITY AN-124-100 CARGO AIRCRAFT MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT FOR VOLGA-DNEPR

Volga-Dnepr Group’s new AN-124-100 cargo aircraft, with its 30% increase in payload capacity to 150 tonnes, has successfully completed its maiden flight.

The aircraft, financed through a US$29.9 million, 10-year loan agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC), performed a three hours, 20 minute test flight from Ulyanovsk-Vostochny Airport on April 11th.

Testing of the new aircraft began on March 16th when it was taxied from the Aviastar production facility to the flight test centre at Ulyanovsk. Before the maiden flight, tests were successfully carried out on the aircraft’s systems, performance, avionics set, D-18T engines and TA-12 auxiliary power units.

The test flight provided the first opportunity to monitor the new AN-124 in the air. According to Sergey Shvets, test pilot for the flight, the aircraft performed in accordance with airworthiness regulations. Four more test flights will be conducted at the aircraft manufacturing facility before the aircraft is inspected for the Aviation Register by the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK). There is already a reserved board number - RA-82081 - for the new aircraft in the roll of Russian civil airliners.

The new freighter will be the 10th AN-124-100 in Volga-Dnepr’s fleet. As well as its new 150 tonnes payload capacity, it features enhanced oxygen equipment for the crew as well as a state-of-the-art avionics set, including Orlan 8.33 KHz-spaced VHF radios, TCAS-2000 Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System, RVSM Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum system, BRNAV-5 system of zone navigation for accuracy up to one mile of the aircraft location and the ABRIS integrated navigation system.

The new AN-124-100 freighter is a logical step towards the realisation of Volga-Dnepr’s strategy of using the unique developments of the Russian aviation industry to strengthen the Group's leadership position in the international outsize and super heavy air cargo market. The fuselage for the new jet, built at the Aviastar-SP manufacturing facility, was acquired by Volga-Dnepr Group in 2002. In less than two years, the fuselage has been turned into the operating aircraft, which now joins the world's largest AN-124-100 fleet.

Notes to editors:

The AN-124-100 ‘Ruslan’ is the world's largest production freighter.

It was designed by Antonov Design Bureau at the end of the 1970s. The maiden flight was performed in 1982. The aircraft production chain included over 500 companies from all over the Soviet Union. The aircraft was in serial production at Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP and Kiev-based Aviant manufacturing plants.

Volga-Dnepr boasts over 13-years experience of successful AN-124-100 commercial operations. In recent years, the international outsize and super heavy air cargo market has demonstrated an average growth of 15-20% per year.

According to the results of 2003, sales volume of Volga-Dnepr Group increased to US$243 million and cargo volume exceeded 63,000 tonnes, giving Volga-Dnepr a 51% share of the international market in its sector.

High and increasing demand for AN-124-100 transportation services fills the Group with optimism for the future and reinforces its strategy commitment based on the continuing modernisation of the AN-124-100.