A Unique One-Piece Cargo Operation

Ulyanovsk, August 2001. Volga-Dnepr Airlines received the commercial inquiry to provide transportation of a one-piece cargo (propeller screw with reduction gear) of 75 tonnes of weight. In order to operate the flight, a fundamentally innovative engineering solution had to be worked out. The problem lied in the cargo weight (75 t.) falling, practically, at one point of the cargo hold floor. The operation was unexampled, as none of the world's types would take that load. The deadline for technical solution elaboration was only 3 days with evident lack of the cargo technical information. It took only two days to develop a unique loading scheme with the cargo spread. In order to fix the cargo in this position it became necessary to configure available assemblies to make them serve as the cargo cradles. The Technical Director Department experts suggested several engineering solutions providing cargo fixation. Vladimir Vyshemirsky, a principle engineer, took the final decision at the point of loading in Helsinki.

It took 50 hours to prepare for the unique operation. Loading took only 7 hours vs. 10 hours prescribed for such technically sophisticated operations. The operation was successfully completed after landing and unloading in Huston (USA). Once again, the situation demonstrated willingness and capabilities of the airline departments and of the aircraft technical crew of taking noncomplex and critical decisions within stringent time scales.

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