Schenker undertakes Mega Airlift Project for Brunei Shell Petroleum

First time ever three Sikorsky S92A Helicopters transported in one Antonov 124 to Brunei, part of six charters for Oil & Gas giant. Project underscores Schenker’s comprehensive expertise and network.

News Item Entered: Friday, March 23, 2007

(Singapore/Connecticut/Brunei, 23/03/07) The world's largest cargo airlifter in commercial operations, Antonov AN-124, arrived at Royal Brunei Air Force Base in Rimba, Brunei in late January to deliver three new Sikorsky S92A helicopters, one of the world’s largest helicopters in production, for Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP). The delivery, managed by Schenker Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Competence Centre, is a very challenging airlift from a technical perspective. Though large civil helicopters are often moved by AN-124, this is the first time that three Sikorsky S92 were transported at the same time in one single AN-124.

The three S92 helicopters, were prepped and loaded into the cargo-hall of an Antonov 124-100 on 22nd January 2007 at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, USA, by Aeroparts Systems Division of Schenker Inc (USA). Preparation involved the dismantling and repackaging of removed components (such as rotor blades), so as to fit the S92 into the AN124 Hull. The aircraft took off on 23rd January, and stopped for fuel at Anchorage in Alaska and Khabarovsk in Eastern Russia prior to its arrival in Brunei. The helicopters removed components were then transported separately via freighter to Singapore, and subsequently arrived in Brunei from Singapore by one Antonov AN-12 and another Antonov AN-26 on 26th and 28th January respectively. All the Antonov charters were made by the Charter Division of Schenker in Germany.

Capt Jonathan Phillips, Head of Aircraft Services, BSP said, “Due to the very challenging technical requirements of the charter project, we needed to partner a competent Global Logistics service provider that not only understood our unique requirements, but also had the depth of expertise across verticals and extensive global network to make this happen. Schenker was awarded this charter because of these criteria.”