Volga-Dnepr Group

Dry ice: The Russian An-124 freighter’s COVID vaccine advantage

Huge cargo plane with its nose cone lifted so cargo dollies can be wheeled in.

Most aviation professionals don’t envision the Russian-built An-124 super-freighter playing a role in COVID-19 vaccine distribution because it’s an older, drafty plane often used to haul extra-heavy, oversize cargoes. Think helicopters, turbines and trucks. But the An-124 has a unique advantage that could make it useful: no limit on dry ice.

That could be a critical factor when trying to quickly get large amounts of temperature-sensitive vaccine to people around the world, especially in less...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/dry-ice-the-russian-an-124-freighters-covid-vaccine-advantage

AirBridge Cargo transports first shipment of Chinese COVID vaccine

A 747 jumbo cargo plane gets loaded with large coolers containing pharmaceutical products.

Russian freighter operator AirBridgeCargo has delivered its first shipment of China’s COVID-19 vaccine under the logistics guidance of UPS Marken (NYSE: UPS), the clinical supply chain subsidiary of UPS Healthcare.

AirBridgeCargo, part of the Volga-Dnepr Group, said Monday it transported 6,000 doses of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine made by CanSino Biologics from Beijing to an undisclosed destination for use in clinical trials in various countries. The vaccine is stable at temperature ranges between 35.6...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/airbridge-cargo-transports-first-shipment-of-chinese-covid-vaccine

Volga-Dnepr grounds An-124 super-freighter fleet after accident

A massive white cargo jet inches from touching down on runway.

Russian all-cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr Airlines said Friday it has temporarily suspended all commercial flights with ultra-large Antonov-124-100 freighters until the investigation into the cause of an accident two weeks ago is complete.

One of the company’s An-124 cargo aircraft experienced engine failure and loss of control after taking off from Tolmachevo airport in Novosibirsk on Nov. 13. The crew managed to turn back and make an emergency landing, which damaged the aircraft when it skidded...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/volga-dnepr-grounds-an-124-super-freighter-fleet-after-accident

An-124 mega freighter overshoots runway in emergency landing

A big white freighter aircraft lies in snow at end of runway with damaged engine after emergency landing.

Russian all-cargo airline Volga-Dnepr Group confirmed Friday that a massive An-124-100 freighter made an emergency landing and rolled off the runway after experiencing technical issues on takeoff and returning to the airport in Novosibirsk, Russia. None of the 14 crew members were injured.

The plane was operating under a charter from Seoul, South Korea, to Vienna, with 84 tons of automotive spare parts and made a technical stop in Novosibirsk.

Russian news sites and aviation safety bloggers said...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/an-124-mega-freighter-overshoots-runway-in-emergency-landing

Volga-Dnepr adds 777 to Boeing freighter suite

Boeing

Russian airline AirBridgeCargo (ABC), a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Group, took delivery this week of its first purpose-built Boeing 777 freighter. 

The plane is a small, but welcome, addition of freighter capacity to a transport market characterized by limited supply because of the withdrawal of passenger flights due to the coronavirus. 

Volga-Dnepr will operate the aircraft through a sale-leaseback agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, a large lessor of 777 freighters, Boeing announced. In...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/volga-dnepr-adds-777-to-boeing-freighter-suite

Russian airlines expand 737 freighter services

ATRAN Airlines

Russia’s ATRAN Airlines has expanded its express cargo services to China with the addition of a weekly flight between Moscow and Shijiazhuang airports to handle e-commerce orders.

Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, is smaller than Beijing and Tianjin to the north but has benefited as e-commerce suppliers expand to second-tier cities. Online orders from Russia have significantly increased this year because people have few opportunities to shop in stores amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

ATR...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/russian-airlines-expand-737-freighter-services

Career Tracks: Hanks recognized as American Maritime Hero

Tom Hanks

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) has named Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks the recipient of the American Maritime Hero Award.

The award recognizes individuals or groups of individuals who have added to the rich heritage of the United States as a maritime nation through their professional contributions, courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and World War II merchant mariners were named the AMP’s first American Maritime...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/career-tracks:-hanks-recognized-as-american-maritime-hero

Russian airline completes massive airlift of medical supplies for France

The French government has ended a massive airlift of medical supplies from China to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus after stockpiles were deemed sufficient.

Over the past three months, Russian carrier Volga-Dnepr operated 48 Antonov-124 freighter flights to deliver 3,000 tons of medical supplies. French logistics firm Geodis coordinated the operation.

The Cold War-era AN-124s, which were built in Ukraine, are the largest commercial cargo aircraft in use and are normally associated...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/russian-airline-completes-massive-airlift-of-medical-supplies-for-france

+ More