VOLGA-DNEPR AIRLINES OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

Farnborough, July 2002. Volga-Dnepr was the first airline to operate into Afghanistan after the start of international anti-terrorist operations conducted according to Resolution 1267 of the UN Security Council. Today, with its unique An-124-100 fleet and highly professional personnel, especially the aircrew, Volga-Dnepr continues to play a key role in the airlift of peacekeeping forces' equipment and humanitarian-aid supplies to Afghanistan.

Volga-Dnepr's An-124-100 performed the first flight to Kabul on December 17, 2001. Up to the end of June 2002, the airline had flown 206 Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan missions to both Kabul airport and Bagram airbase, transporting 14,110 tonnes of assorted cargo. The flights were chartered by 15 national governments and international organisations in support of the International Stabilisation Force. Flights originated from Europe, North America and Australia.

Loads transported by Volga-Dnepr to Afghanistan have included a complete mobile hospital from Prague, helicopters, light vehicles, temporary bridging equipment, tents, bulk foodstuffs, snowploughs, medical supplies, engineering plant, mobile field kitchens, ambulances, heavy trucks, communications systems, mine-clearing equipment and mail.

"The first months were a very busy, intensive flying period, especially in February," says Sergey Buyankin, Volga-Dnepr's Deputy Director of Flight Operations, "all aircrew holidays and courses were cancelled and everybody was called in. Nobody seemed to mind though, because they appreciated that we were doing an essential job ? and doing it well. Morale was very high."

An extensive and intensive training was undertaken to prepare for the flights. There was not a lot of data on Bagram airbase available. One of the pilots went to Bagram to have a good look at the place and briefed on the possible hazards. The crews flew simulated Bagram approaches at the airline's Ulyanovsk base to perfect the techniques to be used.

There were no navigation aids or airport infrastructure and only very basic air traffic control on the ground. All approaches to Afghanistan airports were therefore visual. The mountainous landscape around Kabul and, especially, Bagram demanded highly professional and well co-ordinated work from the crews.

The An-124-100 as operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines is ideally suited to such operations. Volga-Dnepr's An-124s have a modernised avionics suite, which includes GPS satellite navigation system, Ground Proximity Warning System, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System and ground mapping radar all of which contribute to safe navigation when air traffic control radar coverage is limited or non-existent.

With its twin Auxiliary Power Units the An-124 also had another advantage as it did not need any ground power units, either to power the aircraft during unloading or to start the engines when ready to depart. This high degree of self-sufficiency was greatly appreciated by the authorities at both Bagram and Kabul who had very few assets initially. The An-124 loading/unloading equipment and the front and rear ramps allow unloading without special airport ground equipment and time on the ground is thus minimised.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines operates nine Antonov An-124-100s, 43% of the world fleet. Since 1992 Volga-Dnepr has been constantly participating in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions. Since 1994 the airline has been an official UN carrier and in 1995 Volga-Dnepr was included in the UN register of major aviation services providers.