NEW LOADING/UNLOADING EQUIPMENT PASSES OPERATIONAL TESTS

Volga-Dnepr has successfully completed the testing of new loading and unloading equipment for single, heavy pieces of cargo up to 50 tonnes in weight onto IL-76 freighters.

Operational tests took place on two flights on routes: Orebro (Sweden) – Subik Bay (Philippines) and Macao (China) - Bahrain (Bahrain). Usually to load single, heavy cargoes into the IL-76 cargo cabin, it is necessary to place wooden skids (beams) as the height of the trailer is 0.5–1 meter lower than the aircraft cargo floor. For customers, this can add both extra loading time and additional cost. This is no longer necessary in most cases.

On the first test flight, loading a 16 metres long, 22 tonne crankshaft for an electric power station took just 4.5 hours, half the time normally planned for such a difficult operation. The second flight proved to be equally success-ful, transporting a 23.5 tonne heat exchanger from China to Bahrain.

This unique equipment is has been developed and patented by specialists of the technical director service of Volga-Dnepr Airline. The usage of this kit is agreed with the Illyushin Design Bureau.