Volga-Dnepr has favourable FAA inspection

Published: 2/21/2000

According to press reports, one of Volga Dnepr"s (VD) An-124-100 has undergone an FAA inspection at New York"s John F Kennedy Airport. The report seems to have emanated from the carrier, in an attempt to position the largest of Russia"s carriers above its less reliable competitors. The Ulyanovsk-based airline said that the inspectors checked its on-board documentation, technical condition of the aircraft, emergency and rescue equipment, and the level of the crew's competence. The conclusion of the The press report suggest that the inspection team"s conclusions were largely favourable, with positive comments on the plane"s condition, documentation and the competence of the crew. According to VD, its aircraft are subject to regular field inspections on a regular basis, the latest being an Il-76TD, which was inspected by the JAA at Lyon, with no negative results. The carrier says that it keeps track of its inspections and tries to correct any problems that emerge in the course of them, in order to improve its own internal systems. The airline"s next inspection hurdle will be an examination by the ICAO, which is due to inspect the complete VD fleet, including 9 An-124-100s, at airports outside of Russia.

Article ID: 1441