OREANDA-NEWS. Aircraft wings for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner have been transported from Japan to Boeing's final assembly factory in Everett, USA, onboard one of Volga-Dnepr Airlines' An-124-100 'Ruslan' freighters.

The flight from Nagoya carried two wing boxes, each measuring 28 metres in length and manufactured in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan).

To accomplish the secure and timely delivery of this special shipment, an international team from Volga-Dnepr Airlines in Russia and the UK, the Boeing Corporation in the United States, and Germany's Broetje Automation GmbH created unique loading accessories and equipment to ensure safe handling and transportation of this non-standard cargo to its final destination. The loading system was designed using the CATIA three-dimensional modelling system. Wide use of digital technologies and unusual engineering solutions helped to better demonstrate unprecedented technical capabilities of An-124-100 Ruslan.

The logistics process for the flight was co-ordinated by Volga-Dnepr's recently-established Engineering and Logistics Center (ELC). Its experts carried out all of the detailed preliminary work and ensured all contractual obligations were met.

Integrated efforts as well as a project-type approach to the shipment applied by the international team including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), supported the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's production schedule.

“This shipment provided a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the logistics competency of our Engineering and Logistics Center and reinforces our decision to extend our service offering to customers with complex air logistics challenges. Our expertise helps customers ensure a reliable and efficient cargo delivery door-to-door,” said Vladimir Vyshemirsky of Volga-Dnepr's Engineering and Logistics Center.

Alexey Isaikin, President and CEO of Volga-Dnepr Group, added: “The carriage of wings for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a good example of international cooperation in the aerospace industry and ensured the success of this unique operation. Our strategic pan is aimed at being part of similar long-term, comprehensive programmes that require special expertise and a non-standard air logistics solution.”