Emirates SkyCargo flight from Erbil breaks world record
Dubai: Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, has set a new record for the heaviest recorded single item ever carried by a Boeing 777F.
Weighing in at 21.157 tonnes (including packaging), the item - a specialised valve used to seal, control and monitor oil and gas wells - was just short of the aircraft's 21.624-tonne limit.
The blowout preventer - which was transported from Iraq's Erbil International Airport to Dubai - would normally be transported by sea, but the customer required a faster solution.
Capabilities tested to the full
The shipment - 2.25 metres by 1.9m by 1.9m - tested the capabilities of the aircraft and staff to the full. "Carrying cargo of a weight so close to the B777's limit was very challenging," said Nihal Wickrema, Emirates' Manager Freighter Operations and Charters.
"The highest level of care and precision planning was required by ground-handling operations at both airports. The weight had to be spread along the aircraft's structure and the shape of the item was such that it could potentially have rolled during the flight so we had to ensure there was sufficient restraint in every direction."
Dnata
Emirates SkyCargo worked closely with dnata, the ground handling agent in Erbil, the customer - Starlight - and its delivery agent in Erbil.
"This operation was a great showcase of the expertise of everyone involved," added Wickrema. "We always try to find a solution to even the most challenging customer requirements. It was a stern test of our operational capabilities so it is satisfying to have successfully completed the job, which is now testament to an enhanced level of service that we can offer customers."
In the 2010-11 financial year, Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.8 million tonnes of cargo across its network, contributing 17.4 per cent - $ 2.4b - of the airline's total transport revenue.
Based out of Dubai International Airport, its $327million 43,600 square metre Cargo Mega Terminal is designed to handle 1.2 million tonnes of cargo a year.
Emirates' 162-strong fleet - including eight freighters (three Boeing 747-400Fs, two 747-400ERFs and three 777Fs) - is one of the youngest in the skies.
©Gulfnews