ANTONOV transports giant compressors loaded with AN-124-100s unique crane system

Apr 11, 2017: ANTONOV Airlines has safely transported three giant compressors on one of its seven AN-124-100s, from its UK base at London Stansted Airport to Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea.

The UK-manufactured parts, each weighing 23 tonnes and measuring 648cm long, 284cm wide, and 358cm high, travelled in modified crates designed to work with the AN-124-100's unique on-board crane system.

ANTONOV is the only airline in the world that carries an adaptor on board each of its giant aircraft, allowing it to extend the lift of its crane system by 10,000 kilograms, giving a final lift capacity of 30,000 kilograms.

"By modifying the shape of the crates for this operation, we did not need to use additional ramp equipment and did not need to carry extra equipment on the aircraft," said Martin Griffiths, Commercial manager, ANTONOV Airlines, who organised the charter.

"This resulted in a faster loading process and reduced costs to the customer."

ANTONOV Airlines was the first to offer the AN-124-100 commercially and also flies the largest aircraft in the world, the AN-225, with a payload of up to 250 tonnes that holds 242 world records.

ANTONOV's chief pilot Dmitriy Antonov, who pilots the AN-225, flew the compressors to their new home in South Korea.

The cargo was delivered to London Stansted Airport on April 3 on a fleet of three Jan de Rijk Logistics trucks.

"Our aerospace unit was involved in this operation, using their years of experience of complex off-size cargo," said Sebastiaan Scholte, CEO, Jan de Rijk Logistics.

"We operate with special permits and have extensive experience in handling projects at the tarmac of London Stansted Airport."

The aircraft landed and the cargo was offloaded in Incheon, South Korea on April 7, 2017.

The AN-124-100, with a payload of up to 150 tonnes, is one of the world's biggest aircraft.

ANTONOV Company, the design and maintenance authority for the AN freighter fleet, provides technical expertise for moving project and outsized cargo safely and economically around the world.

Last week, Antonov test flew a new multipurpose aircraft, the AN-132D, which is intended for operation on short and medium-haul routes.