ANTONOV AIRLINES APPROVES USE IN ITS FLEET OF OIL SPILL RESPONSE’S SECOND TRANSPORTATION SKID DESIGNED FOR SINGAPORE CAPPING STACK

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Antonov Airlines will continue to provide air support to Oil Spill Response (OSRL) after the company ordered a second transport skid for its oil capping stack in Singapore.

The new air transport skid will be available to the OSRL SWIS subscribers in Q4 2019, and will supplement the existing skid located in Stavanger, Norway, which was introduced to the service in August 2018 where a demonstration flight was performed as a part of a large-scale exercise from Stavanger, SOLA airport.

“The combined capping stack and air freight skid design was verified for air transportation by Antonov Airlines’ technical department confirming that the cargo can be airlifted in both AN-124-100 and AN-124-100M-150 variants that the airline operates as well as the AN-225”, Martin Griffiths, Commercial Manager, British Office of Antonov Airlines commented.

“We were very happy with the demonstration flight that was performed last year on one of our AN-124-100s in Stavanger. It was the first time anyone has transported a fully assembled capping stack on an aircraft, and in the event of any future oil spill emergencies, we will now be able to provide a rapid response anywhere in the world.” OSRL SWIS Director Andy Myers commented. “We are focused and committed to increasing the capabilities of the SWIS service to meet our subscribers subsea source control planning and response requirements. Introducing the additional air freight capability for our Singapore capping stack adds to mobilisation options for our subscribers not just in APAC but enhances our global response coverage bench strength.

"The logistics requirements for air freight of our capping stacks are well understood and have been demonstrated through physical exercise with a demonstration flight (Norway 2018). We work closely with strategic partner Chapman Freeborn (air charter specialist) to continually monitor availability, location and status of the AN-124 and AN-225 airframes that are capable of transporting our capping stacks.

"AN-124 and AN-225 aircraft do not rely on airport main deck loader equipment for loading and unloading operations. Heavy load ramp systems (ten sets available globally) are utilised under the control of the aircraft providers and are staged globally to meet aircraft operations. This provides confidence in our enhanced airfreight mobilisation option.”