Antonov Airlines has transported parts for an aircraft in cooperation with DB Schenker Brazil from Viracopos, Brazil to Miami, USA, with one week’s notice for planning and executing the project.

In a statement, Antonov noted that the cargo was dismantled into consignments with dimensions that met the AN-124-100 aircraft specifications filling six wooden crates.

They included 15 m long wing sections and two sections of fuselage measuring 12 m long.

To handle the dimensions of the cargo, special loading equipment designed and manufactured by Antonov Airlines was used in conjunction with two external cranes as well as forklifts to ensure smooth and safe loading and unloading of the cargo.

“Thanks to the expertise of our in-house engineers, strong communication channels with the customer, and the flexibility of both parties on the solutions for cargo transportation, Antonov Airlines was able to plan and deliver this cargo within the tight deadline to the highest safety standards,” said Ivan Bozhko, commercial executive, Antonov Airlines.

Alvaro Zanella, Airfreight Business Development and Operations Manager, DB Schenker, noted the complexity of the operation.

“It was a really challenging operation due to cargo size and delicacy itself, as well as the short amount of time we had from receiving the demand to accomplishing its required necessity,” Zanella said.

Antonov Airlines noted that it has been involved with transporting other modes of transport over the last thirty years, including racing yachts for America’s Cup, helicopters, and even maglev trains for metro systems.

Antonov Airlines operates seven AN-124-100 with up to 120-tonnes payloads – two with a payload up to 150 tonnes, the largest turboprop-powered aircraft AN-22 with a payload up to 60 tonnes, as well as the 250-tonnes payload AN-225 “Mriya”, the largest cargo aircraft in the world.