On 12 September 2023, the AN-12BP RA-11371 cargo aircraft in the livery of the Atran transport airline performed the first flight from Zhukovsky International Airport to Norilsk, delivering 12 tonnes of consumer goods and equipment as part of the northern importation. This was reported in the press service of the carrier.
This event was preceded by almost six months of preparations, which included searching for a suitable aircraft variant for operation, carrying out work to restore the aircraft’s airworthiness, searching for and training crews, as well as solving organisational issues.
Pending the outcome of negotiations on the Boeing 737 fleet with lessors, the airline’s management decided to relaunch ATRAN on the basis of the time-proven AN-12. The carrier has experience and competence in operating this type of aircraft – the aircraft was in the company’s fleet until 2014.
“We plan to provide the northern remote regions with vital cargo and products and build a route network depending on seasonal demand to such cities as Naryan-Mar, Khatanga, Novy Urengoy, Anadyr, Pevek, Keperveem and others. We are already seeing a positive trend in the development of small aviation and restoration of small airports, especially in hard-to-reach places, so we will actively cooperate with local administration and retail representatives to build up air logistics”, – commented Dmitry Sorokin, General Director of ATRAN Airlines.
The four-engine turboprop medium-haul civilian cargo aircraft AN-12BP is designed to transport cargo and equipment on short- and medium-haul air routes. It is capable of carrying cargoes weighing up to 20 tonnes and having a volume of 80 m3 for a distance of up to 1000 kilometres, and up to 10 tonnes for a distance of up to 3500 kilometres. An elevated tail section and a large cargo hatch provide convenient conditions for loading and unloading large-size cargoes, as well as their parachute landing.
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