Volga-Dnepr Expects An-124 Paint Job to Produce Fuel Savings of $100,000 a Year Per Aircraft

One of Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ unique An-124-100 freighters has been painted using a leading coating technology to increase the aircraft’s aerodynamic qualities and produce a fuel saving of over $100,000 a year.

Vladimir Drebnev, Senior Engineer, Continuing Airworthiness at Volga-Dnepr Airlines, stated: “The Base coat/clear coat system is widely used on aircraft around the world. The facial layer of the glaze is considered to have greater smoothness than, for example, polyurethane enamel, and protects the base layer of painting from the influence of ultra-violet rays. Due to this smoother effect, the air drag during a flight decreases and this can be measured in terms of fuel savings. As a result of using the coating, we expect to cut the aircraft’s fuel expenses by up to 1.5% or more than $100 000 per year. The Base coat/clear coat system also gives a freshly painted look for a longer period so it also produces a saving in paint work too. The periods between washing of the aircraft can also be extended because the lacquer is more soil-resistant.”

The aircraft (RA82079) will be monitored by Volga-Dnepr’s technical experts to gauge the level of fuel savings. If the technology demonstrates the results the airline is hoping for, it will ultimately be applied to the rest of Volga-Dnepr’s An-124-100 fleet.

The painting of the aircraft was completed by Spectr-Avia, Russia’s leading aircraft painting centre.