Volga-Dnepr invests in wing lift system to speed container loading

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has invested in a new ‘wing lift’ system that reduces the loading time for large cargo containers to less than 30 minutes.
To help with the transport of two power generators, the airline used a wing lift system that works by attaching wheels to each corner of containers fitted with standard fitting points, enabling the aircraft’s onboard loading systems to winch the container into the cargo hold safely and within a fraction of the previous handling timescale.
Volga-Dnepr invested in the special ‘wing lift’ system to reduce the usual four-hour loading time for 20, 30 and 40-foot containers onto its aircraft.
Using the system, the shipment of a 19-tonne gas-powered standby generator and a 17.6-tonne diesel generator on behalf of GEODIS Industrial Projects UK was moved from Châlons Vatry Airport in northeastern France to West Africa onboard one of the airline’s IL-76TD-90VD freighters was carried out.
Each generator was housed inside containers measuring 920x260x290cms.