When Volga-Dnepr was asked to provide a self-loading ramp freighter that was able to meet strict Australian civil aviation regulations within 72 hours, it hit upon the perfect answer.
Unlike older versions of the workhorse Il-76 freighter, the modernised Il-76TD-90VD aircraft is approved for worldwide operations and has an Australian Foreign Operators’ Certificate issued by the country’s regulatory authority.
The carrier shipped an emergency load of 10-metre pipes from Townsville in Queensland to Noumea, the capital of the South Pacific territory of New Caledonia.
Thanks to the type’s onboard cranes and the presence of the Volga-Dnepr team, the pipes and 20 pieces of construction equipment were loaded in two hours, half the time originally estimated.
It took the same amount of time to unload the aircraft on arrival in Noumea. On this occasion, the presence of a 24-hour operations department, together with in-house load planning and commercial teams were particularly helpful, Volga-Dnepr added.Â
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