Within a period between the 27th and 31st of October 2019, an AN-22 Antei of Antonov Airlines successfully performed two flights on the Madrid-Baghdad-Madrid route. All flights were performed for DSV Spain – the logistics operator of the Spanish MoD carrying helicopters and spare parts.
Owing to the height of the Antei’s cargo compartment measuring 4.4 metres, the transportation did not require the dismantling of the helicopters’ rotors. In such a way, the cargo was prepared in a shorter time, allowing the delivered helicopters to enter service faster.
Coordination and supervision of all flights were undertaken by Cargoplanet Spain, the representative of ADB for these kind of logistics operations in Spain.
Staff of Cargoplanet and DSV travelled with the cargo on board the AN-22 to and from Baghdad to assure a smooth operation.
“Antonov Airlines highly appreciate cooperation with Cargoplanet Spain and DSV Spain on the performed missions,” said Vitaliy Shost, First Deputy Director of Antonov Airlines.
“We are pleased to announce that the AN-22 is back in the commercial market of outsized air transportations after scheduled maintenance.”
“A few decades ago, the appearance of the AN-22 Antei opened the era of the widebody transport aircraft.”
“This aircraft is still the largest turboprop air freighter in the world and its services are still in demand in the global airlift market.”
The AN-22 Antei can be operated from and to both paved, and unpaved runways, and with transports such as this one, the AN-22 can be more effective than the larger AN-124 Ruslan.
