Volga-Dnepr Airlines has started its 25th anniversary year by moving a 70-ton electrodynamic vibration tester from Shanghai to Russia, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest carrier of unique, outsize and heavyweight air cargo. 
The shipment was transported from China to the Russian city of Chelyabinsk onboard one of Volga-Dnepr’s An-124-100 freighters. To help load the cargo, the airline’s engineers developed special handling equipment. “The electrodynamic vibration tester, or test stand, is applied in various test operations, such as strength tests or instrument standardisation. The cargo consisted of two big pieces; a 24-ton slip table and a 28-ton shaker, as well as supporting equipment. For loading and offloading we used mobile cranes and seven tons of our own unique loading equipment, which included a ramp extension and a rail and roller system. As the customer had required the largest pieces of cargo to be delivered packed in wooden crates, our engineers had to secure the shipments inside the aircraft through holes in the crates,” said Azat Yakupov, Senior Engineer at Volga-Dnepr Airlines. The delivery was organised on behalf of the Russian logistics company Everest. In China the official agent of AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group, was on hand to support the customer by organising delivery of the vibration tester to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport, and arranging handling at the cargo terminal, the hire of a 60-ton capacity crane and the processing of documentation. Andrey Rassadkin, Director, Charter Sales, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: “It is fitting that we should have started our 25th anniversary year with such an interesting flight because it demonstrates the scope of our expertise. Our quarter of a century of unique experience in moving heavy and outsize cargoes, diverse fleet of freighters, and extensive network of offices and agents around the world help us to satisfy the most challenging demands of our customers. This includes designing and implementing custom-made logistics solutions for our clients to meet their deadlines and ensure the most cost efficient transportation service.”