For Gruber Logistics air charter from Fiumicino for a switcher
Alha Group is proud to have played a key role in facilitating an urgent air freight operation for GRUBER Logistics with ANTONOV Airlines and Air Partner.
The operation took 24 hours and required the deployment of an An124 to prevent the interruption of extraction at the Middle East facility.
Between 7 and 8 March, Gruber Logistics' Project Italy division handled an urgent air shipment of a switcher destined for an oil refinery in the Middle East. An operation, he explains, that was particular not so much for the size of the plant as for the need to ensure that it was carried out ‘carefully and on time’.
Working uninterruptedly, the team - coordinated by head Domenico Longano and supported by project manager Christian Randazzo, with the support of the Aereo division in Milan and the business unit in Naples - allowed the ‘part’ to be delivered on time, preventing the extraction plant's operations from being interrupted.
In detail, the exchanger was transported to Rome Fiumicino airport for loading onto an An124-100. In the operation Antonov Airlines collaborated with Air Partner. Given the weight - over 20 tonnes - and the dimensions of the structure (6.50 x 2.50 x 3.60 metres), the transport required specialised planning and the use of ad hoc vehicles. After arrival at the airport, sniffer and security control operations were carried out before Gruber's vehicle was granted access to the runway. For loading, an external ramp provided by Antonov Airlines and a dedicated crane were used; the switcher was then placed on a metal frame where four extra 17WLL shackles were inserted for anchoring inside the An124. The handling operations were carried out with Alha, to whom Gruber wished to dedicate a ‘special thanks’ for their cooperation.