PFN member, Volga-Dnepr make Solar Impulse 2’s round-the-world trip a success.

Solar Impulse 2 has achieved its mission of circumnavigating the globe using a solar-powered aircraft with the logistics support of Chapman Freeborn and our PFN Member+, Volga-Dnepr Airlines. The mission was achieved with  Volga-Dnepr Airline’s IL-76TD-90VD and ATR-72 and Chapman Freeborn’s  in-house flight support team managing the project’s operations ranging from flight permits and customs clearances to ground handling and immigration arrangements for the transport airplanes.

Pierre van der Stichele, Cargo Business Development Director at Chapman Freeborn, said:“Chapman Freeborn is honoured to have provided specialist support for the Si2 mission throughout its journey around the world. The challenge for all innovators is doing things that have not been done before – so we’re extremely proud to have been involved in this aviation industry first. The project required all of our global charter market expertise as we were working around Si2’s changeable flight schedules – with support solutions required in Asia, North America, Europe, and North Africa. We would also like to thank Volga-Dnepr for its professionalism for assisting in ensuring the cargo always reached its destination safely and on time.”

Georgy Sokolov, Regional Sales Manager at Volga-Dnepr Airlines, added: “Volga-Dnepr Group is strongly committed to improving the environmental efficiency of its fleet and to embracing all levels of aviation innovation so it was a special pleasure for us to play a long-term role in the historic achievement of the Solar Impulse 2 team. This demanded a level of flexibility far beyond a usual charter operation as we had to be ready to mobilize our aircraft at extremely short notice. It was also appropriate that the modernized IL-76TD-90VD supporting Si2 features significantly improved operating efficiency and lower emissions. As an industry, we must always be evaluating new technology that can make flying greener and more efficient and right now, in terms of showing what aviation may look like in the future, there is no better example than Solar Impulse 2.”