Volga-Dnepr Appoints A Person Responsible for the Quality Management System

Moscow, 18 August 2001. Volga-Dnepr Airlines has appointed a representative of top management responsible for the Quality Management System. This appointment is aimed at meeting the requirements for ISO 9000 certification. The airline's chief safety inspector was given a status of deputy director general. Besides other responsibilities, he will be in charge of development, implementation and operation of the in-house Quality Management System.

Creation of this new position was dictated by the following reasons:
- the need to raise the status of the airline's flight safety inspection team;
- plans for the ISO certification of the in-house Quality Management System.

1. Flight safety, as the airline's top priority, requires combined effort by all personnel. The company adopted an action plan aimed at stricter compliance with safety-related rules and regulations. This program should be coordinated and supervised by a top-level executive.

2. Federal Aviation Regulatons of Russia require that all Russian airlines engaged in international operations should implement a service quality assurance system certificated to ISO 9000:2000 standards. These standards must apply to all business activities of an airline, including operations, planning, marketing, document processing, employee job descriptions. Pursuant to ISO standards, the company must have a top-level manager responsible for the quality of service.

Few world-known organizations are authorized to audit compliance with ISO standards and issue ISO-compliance certificates. These include Lloyd Register (UK), Bureau Veritas (France), TUV CERT (Germany), Marine Shipping Register (Russia). The certificate confirms the high level and stability of services offered by the holder.

Certification of the Quality Management System offers the following benefits:
- increased personal responsibility throughout the organization;
- stronger repiutation in the international scene and increased sales at adequate prices;
- better chances to win various tenders and bidding processes;
- higher value for prospective investors.

About 500,000 companies worldwide enjoy ISO certification. Volga-Dnepr became one of the first Russian airlines implementing ISO 9000:2000 standards in its operations.

Youri Malevinsky was appointed as a deputy director general - chief inspector for safety, quality and certification. Mr. Malevinsky was born in 1949 and has extensive experience in managing flight operations. He joined Volga-Dnepr Airlines in 1993 as head of flight safety inspection. He is a chairman of the Committee for Flight Safety in the Air Transport Operators Association, member of the Society of Aviation Investigators, active participant in the non-profit Flight Safety Foundation.

For further information, please contact:

PR Department

Volga-Dnepr Airlines

Phone: +7 095 245-57-93

Fax: +7 095 244-28-79

E-mail: Leon@msk.vda.ru